Silence of the Lambs Team Reassesses Trans Critique, Sees Regret
On the 35th anniversary of The Silence of the Lambs, the film’s team addresses long-running criticism from transgender and LGBTQ audiences, with Ted Levine acknowledging that some dialogue and depictions are regrettable and stressing he did not portray Buffalo Bill as gay or trans; producer Edward Saxon says the filmmakers weren’t sensitive enough to LGBTQ stereotypes and that the portrayal caused harm, expressing regret while defending their loyalty to the source material. The discussion highlights the film’s lasting cultural impact and the ongoing re-evaluation of representation in cinema.
