Irina Volynets, chair of Russia's National Parents Committee, has accused films of promoting unhealthy relationships by glamorizing age gaps and social-status differences between partners.
Speaking to the National Service of News, Volynets said cinema and art frequently serve as propaganda for misalliances, both in age and social standing. She cited the 2009 film Chéri, starring Michelle Pfeiffer, as a prime example.
The film follows a mature courtesan who takes up with the young son of her wealthy friend. Volynets said it presents the story, which ends with the young man dying of unrequited love, as a great and pure romance. She called this propaganda and the popularization of misalliance, and added that from a natural standpoint such relationships are unnatural, because an older woman cannot give a man children.
The remarks followed comments by psychiatrist Natalya Birina, who said partners should not be more than ten years apart in age.
