Susan Sarandon: “There are still Zionists in my industry asking that I not be hired”

Susan Sarandon arrived at the Venice Film Festival with a prominent role in The Echo Chamber, an Italian film directed by Andrea Pallaoro from Bernardo Bertolucci’s final screenplay. The film stars Alicia Vikander and Luca Marinelli in a story of love and distress, centered on a music producer in London who brings in a physiotherapist while preparing an album with an aging singer.

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There are still deeply rooted positions within my industry, held by Zionist people who have not changed their attitude toward me.

Sarandon plays the veteran singer and also had to sing for the role. Her appearance comes as she says Hollywood opportunities have disappeared because of her public support for Palestine. “There are still deeply rooted positions within my industry, held by Zionist people who have not changed their attitude toward me,” she said at the Lido. “Recently, films have been taken away from me because there are still agencies telling other people not to hire me.”

She described that as part of the power structure in the industry, but said public understanding of Palestine had changed. “For many people, it has been an important revelation to discover the extent to which the United States funds Israel,” she said. She added that people were now more aware of the links between Zionism and the United States in American politics.

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Recently, films have been taken away from me because there are still agencies telling other people not to hire me.

Sarandon said she felt welcomed by people, particularly internationally, even though she believed major studios viewed her and others as difficult to work with on certain projects. “That is why I thank Andrea, because he did not listen to those warnings,” she said.

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For many people, it has been an important revelation to discover the extent to which the United States funds Israel.

The actress said singing made her feel vulnerable because she does not actually sing, but believed that discomfort suited her character, Ava, who was also struggling. Vikander described the film’s central “echo chamber” as both reverberating music and the memories, events and habits from which its characters cannot escape. Shot entirely inside an apartment, the film unfolds as a slow-burning drama with a mystery around what lies beyond the walls and where the characters came from.

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That is why I thank Andrea, because he did not listen to those warnings.