Quentin Tarantino has started a fierce debate about the representation of women in film

Quentin Tarantino has landed himself in a bit of hot water after his annoyed response to a reporter asking about Margot Robbie’s few lines in his new film Once Upon a Time in…Hollywood.

In Tarantino’s ninth feature film, Robbie plays actress Sharon Tate, who was murdered in 1969 by members of the infamous Manson family cult.

The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, and it was at a press conference that he clashed with a reporter who asked the director why Robbie’s character didn’t get more dialogue, firstly given her talent and secondly, for the importance Sharon’s character has in the story.

“Well, I just reject your hypothesis,” Tarantino snapped at the reporter.

After a moment’s pause, Robbie answered the question instead: “I don’t think it was intended to delve deeper,” she said.

"I always look to the character and what the character is supposed to serve to the story. I think the moments that I got on screen gave an opportunity to honour Sharon.”

I think the tragedy ultimately was the loss of innocence, and to really show those wonderful sides of her I think could be adequately done without speaking.

Tarantino’s response has prompted fans of both the director and cinema in general to talk about the representation of women in film

Some people argued the reporter's question was valid

And called him out on previous questionable behaviour

Other people defended the director and cited several films he made, including Kill Bill, which features strong, female characters with plenty of lines

However, Uma Thurman ​, the principle actress in Kill Bill, revealed she had been put in danger on set when driving a car during filming and Tarantino's response, she said, had been "dehumanisation to the point of death"

Tarantino responded to Thurman's #MeToo, which was written in The New York Times by op-columnist Maureen Dowd, by calling it "the biggest regret of my life."

One person argued filmmaking is an 'artistic and creative process not a political one'

And another cited films in which memorable male characters were given little lines

People argued that the reason Robbie didn't have that many lines is because she wasn't the main character

And thought the question suggested she didn't have agency in picking her roles - which she does

However, a Twitter user pointed out that Tarantino has a long history of fetishising violence against women in his films - and that's the real problem