CANNES, France – Roman Polanski says the birth control pill has had a “masculinizing” effect on women and that the leveling of the sexes is “idiotic”

The director made the comments Saturday at the Cannes Film Festival, where he came to premiere “Venus in Fur,” a film adapted from the David Ives play, which toys with the subject of gender.

Polanski said the pill has “changed the place of women in our times” while talking to reporters. He further lamented that “offering flowers to a lady” has become “indecent.”

The 79-year-old Polanski was famously convicted of having sex with a minor in a 1977 case. He was initially indicted on six felony counts, including rape by use of drugs, child molesting and sodomy, but pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful sexual intercourse.

Polanski, whose past films include “Chinatown” and “Rosemary’s Baby,” fled the U.S. after a Los Angeles judge threatened further sanctions.

He’s restricted by an Interpol warrant in effect in 188 countries, but he moves freely between Switzerland and France. He was freed from Swiss house arrest in 2010 after the government refused to deport him to the United States.

Advertisement

His new film stars his wife, Emmanuelle Seigner, and Mathieu Amalric as an actress and theater director rehearsing an adaptation of Leopold von Sacher-Masoch’s 1870 novella, “Venus in Furs.” The film features Seigner as a strong, feminine actress who comes to dominate her director.

“Venus in Fur” is in competition for the Palme d’Or, Cannes’ top honor.

Suit: Weiland must stop use of STP name

LOS ANGELES – The Stone Temple Pilots accuse former frontman Scott Weiland, 45, of misusing the band’s name to further his solo career and want a judge to strip the rocker of his ability to use the group’s name and songs.

A lawsuit filed Friday in Los Angeles accuses Weiland of being chronically late to concerts while the group was together and having his lawyer attempt to interfere with the airplay of the group’s new single “Out of Time.” The lawsuit also cites Weiland’s addiction struggles.

STP broke up in February.

 


Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.