In 2024, Léon, directed by Luc Besson, remains a cult work of world cinema. Released in 1994, this film tells a captivating story. It features Léon, a taciturn hitman. Moreover, there is also Mathilda. She is an 11-year-old orphan. Her quest is one of revenge. This mainstream work has marked generations. Its narrative and visual power is undeniable. However, it is now the subject of heated debates. The reason is the ambiguous relationship between its two protagonists. The experience of Natalie Portman is particularly enlightening. She was very young at the time. This invites a broader reflection. Indeed, it concerns the place and the condition of women in the film industry.
An unforgettable performance by Natalie Portman
Natalie Portman was only 11 years old when she played Mathilda, a brave young girl in search of a protector. In this role, Natalie Portman delivers a remarkable performance. She blends innocence and maturity. Moreover, she demonstrates a rare emotional power. This is particularly notable for such a young actress. This role, a true springboard, quickly established her as a rising star in Hollywood.
The following year, Portman shared the screen with Al Pacino and Robert De Niro in the thriller Heat. But while Léon remains the work that launched her career, it also marks a complex period, where the actress’s early exposure generated inappropriate behaviors. From the beginning, she faced letters from adult men. These letters expressed salacious fantasies. This highlights the sexist and predatory drifts. These drifts persist in the artistic milieu.
Léon: between cult and controversy
Upon its release, Léon was hailed as a masterpiece for its aesthetics and exploration of human relationships. Yet, 30 years later, the dynamic between Léon, played by Jean Reno, and Mathilda arouses growing unease. Some see it as a pure and protective friendship. However, others denounce a disturbing ambiguity. This ambiguity is amplified by revelations about the original script. Notably, it included a sex scene that was removed.
In this context, Léon becomes a case study for examining the representation of power and gender relations in cinema. The film raises the question of narrative boundaries, especially when a male director handles a story mixing violence and the implicit sexualization of such a young girl.
The condition of women in cinema: between inequalities and progress
The case of Natalie Portman illustrates a broader reality: that of systemic inequalities affecting women in the film industry. Actresses are often exposed to hypersexualization from a young age. Moreover, they have to deal with wage gaps. These gaps persist compared to their male counterparts. A recent study confirms a salary disparity in cinema. Actresses earn on average 30% less than their male colleagues. Furthermore, it is rare to assign leading roles to women over 40. In contrast, older male actors still enjoy an aura of maturity and experience. This places them at the top of the credits, long after their female counterparts.
Nude scenes, often required under male direction, also pose an ethical problem. Many actresses testify to insidious pressures. These pressures aim to make them accept such scenes, especially early in their careers. At this stage, their negotiating power is often weak. This imbalance highlights the need to reform filming practices and ensure clear consent, in a respectful framework.
Reasons for hope: towards a more equal industry
Despite these obstacles, cinema is experiencing a slow but real evolution. Women directors and producers are gaining visibility. This evolution is driven by emblematic figures. Among them are Chloé Zhao, Greta Gerwig, and Jane Campion. These pioneers pave the way for more diverse narratives. In these narratives, women are no longer reduced to secondary roles. They are no longer decorative or stereotypical elements.
Moreover, female careers tend to extend. Meryl Streep, Isabelle Huppert, and Demi Moore, among others, now embody this new era, where age is no longer synonymous with sidelining. These actresses prove that it is possible to stay at the top. They impose themselves by their talent. Their choice of roles is as ambitious as it is bold.
Finally, initiatives like intimacy coordinators on sets ensure safer working conditions for actresses, and new production standards promote a more respectful and inclusive cinema.
A work to recontextualize
In 2024, Léon remains a complex work. It is both a testament to Luc Besson’s artistic audacity. It is also an illustration of the dark areas. In this era, certain power dynamics went unquestioned. The film, though ambiguous, now serves as a mirror to reflect on the necessary transformations in the industry.
For Natalie Portman, revisiting this work is part of a constructive approach. While acknowledging that Léon launched her career, she emphasizes the importance of protecting young actresses and rethinking how stories are conceived and staged. Jean Reno remains in the memory of film enthusiasts. He is one of the most remarkable French actors.
Capable of transcending eras and genres. Their duo in Léon continues to fascinate, not for its timelessness, but for the richness of the debates it provokes.
Thus, if Léon divides, it also embodies an opportunity for progress, where cinema, as an art and industry, now reinvents its codes to better reflect the diversity and equality enshrined in law for a long time.