Women not wearing high heels turned away from Cannes ‘Carol’ screening

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A group of women were reportedly turned away from the red carpet screening of ‘Carol’ for not wearing high heels.

Some of the women apparently had medical and mobility issues that meant wearing high heels would have been impossible for them.

A Cannes regular attendant told Screen Daily: “I’ve heard this happening several times now, even to older women who can’t wear heels for medical reasons.

Someone I know was turned away for wearing nice flats, nothing you would wear to the beach. They were in their 50’s.

“They told her she could go and buy appropriate shoes and come back.”

Attendants were keen to point out that this was particularly unfair given the subject matter of the film Carol which tells the story of a young woman who falls in love with an older woman, Carol, played by Cate Blanchett. It is a film that explores defying expectations of gender, and accepted narratives of same-sex relationships.

Cannes confirmed that it is expected that women wear high heeled shoes for red carpet screenings.

Star Cate Blanchett recently said she was misquoted when it was widely reported she had said she had had sexual relationships with women.

She said of her character, Carol: “I read a lot of girl-on-girl books from the period. I think there are a lot of people that exist like [Carol] who don’t feel the need to shout things from the rafters.”