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Cannes, Masculinity, and Global Politics

Tuesday, May 19, 2026
5 min read
Cannes, Masculinity, and Global Politics

Cannes this year. It’s not just about the films, you know? The red carpet stuff. There’s a lot more happening. Stars are using that global stage, talking about politics, power, and all that messy social stuff.

Javier Bardem, the Oscar winner, he was one of them. He made some pretty strong comments while promoting his new movie, The Beloved .

He talked about what he called “aggressive” and “toxic” masculinity. It’s not just about the cinema, though. He linked it to the real world. He said the behavior you see on screen, it reflects stuff he’s seen his whole life, growing up.

The movie itself, The Beloved , it’s directed by Rodrigo Sorogoyen. It follows a filmmaker who throws his estranged daughter into his movie. All that tension, it comes from ego, anger, and control. It’s one of the twenty-two films fighting for the Palme d’Or this year. That prize is announced May 23rd.

Bardem was speaking to Reuters. He made it clear. “The idea of this masculinity that is aggressive, that it has to be also showcasing his power over others,” he said. “That resonates with me, because that’s the generation that I grew up with.”

And then he hit you with something harder. He called it wrong. He pointed out that the fact that this movie is even talking about it shows there’s some awareness now. That it’s something we have to denounce. We have to put it away.

It’s tough, speaking about these things publicly. Especially when family is tangled up. He admitted that pressure is real. “You have a family,” he said. “It’s not only you.”

But he didn’t stop there. During a press conference in Cannes, he pushed the critique outside the film world. He said that “male toxic behaviour” isn't just confined to Hollywood. It shows up with powerful political leaders everywhere.

He specifically named some heavy hitters. Donald Trump. Vladimir Putin. Benjamin Netanyahu. He brought up these guys when talking about what he saw as dangerous displays of power and aggression.

According to Bardem, these attitudes feed into the ongoing mess. The conflicts in places like Ukraine and the Middle East. He’s been vocal before, criticizing Israel’s actions in Gaza too. And yet, he still gets acting offers. It makes you wonder if opinions in the industry are actually shifting, slowly.

Meanwhile, there’s a lot going on outside of the film scene.

You should check out the latest on the Kerala Chief Minister taking the oath. Also, updates on the PM’s recent world tour. And the ongoing situation with Iran and the US. Things are moving fast, and it’s all connected somehow.

Written by Gree News Team — Senior Editorial Board

Gree News Team covers international news and global affairs at Gree News. Our collective of senior editors is dedicated to providing independent, accurate, and responsible journalism for a global audience.

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