Venice Golden Lion winner May el-Toukhy on Woman Unknown and her Egyptian roots

May el-Toukhy, the Danish-Egyptian filmmaker who won the Golden Lion for her film Woman Unknown, recently spoke at the Hungaria Hotel in Venice. She expressed her surprise at being considered a "woman unknown" in her field, with a hint of humor in her voice. The film, which won both the Golden Lion and the Volpi Cup for Best Actress, deals with the tumultuous period following World War II in Denmark, focusing on a nanny named Marie who is secretly involved with a German soldier.

El-Toukhy and her co-writer, Maren Louise Kaehne, drew inspiration from historical photographs depicting the humiliation of women who had relationships with German soldiers during the war. The film delves into themes of guilt, punishment, and the impact of societal judgment on individuals and nations. As the sole woman director among the main competition entries in Venice, El-Toukhy acknowledged the lack of female representation in the industry and expressed her hope that the issue would be addressed by both male colleagues and delegates.

Born to an Egyptian father and a Danish mother, El-Toukhy has always felt connected to her Egyptian roots, having grown up in Denmark as a brown person. She believes her experiences growing up in a predominantly white setting and her father's first-generation immigrant background have influenced her storytelling and perspectives.