Cate Blanchett denies misogynist allegations against 'Tar'

'Tar' follows Blanchett's alter ego at the height of her successful career before allegations surface about her behavior and destroy everything she has worked for. Alsop was outraged: 'I was offended as a woman, I was offended as a conductor, I was offended as a lesbian. There are so many men - actual, documented men - that this film could have been based on, but instead it puts a woman in the role but gives her all the characteristics of those men. That feels misogynistic.”

Cate has now responded, stating that she has the 'utmost respect' for Alsop, but also claimed that the character's circumstances are just coincidental. The 'The Aviator' actress said: 'What director Todd Field and I wanted to do was create a really lively conversation. There are no right or wrong reactions to artworks. It's not a film about conducting and I think the character's circumstances are entirely fictional. I've looked at so many different conductors, but I've also looked at writers and visual artists and musicians from all walks of life. It's a non-literal movie.”

Blanchett insisted that the conductor has 'a right to her opinion' but defended the film against allegations of sexism. The Oscar winner said: 'She's entitled to her opinion, absolutely. But it is a meditation on power and power is genderless. It's a meditation on power and the corrupting nature of power, and I don't think that's necessarily unique to cultural circles. I mean, she could just as easily have been a master architect or the boss of a big banking group.”

BANG Showbiz