Adèle Haenel, Judith Godrèche, Sophie Marceau, Anna Mouglalis: the actresses fight against their environment to blow the #MeToo wind in French cinema. Although we expect a lot from the Cannes festival, its general delegate Thierry Frémaux has already announced the color. Even though he mentions listening to victims, the general delegate continues to invoke the presumption of innocence as an argument to continue inviting men accused of sexist and sexual violence.
“A festival cannot replace justice”
Asked by Variety this Wednesday 3 April, Thierry Frémaux responded directly to questions from the media. Will the festival once again invite men accused of sexism and sexual violence, such as Polanski or Johnny Depp in 2023? Is Cannes affected by #MeToo?
According to the answers of the general delegate of the most famous film festival in the world, the old myth of “people’s court” Who would hinder the operation of justice seems to persist among the decision makers of French cinema. Evading the now quantified failures of justice regarding sexist and sexual violence cases, Frémaux brandished the thesis according to which the festival could not, as it would have done “The press and social networks”influence the defendant’s judgment:
Because police investigations are leaked to the press and social networks, this amplifies the echo and does not make them easier calm and prudent decision making. A festival it can do many things, but it cannot and must not replace the judicial system. The presumption of innocence remains a fundamental value, just like the attention we owe to the testimonies of the victims.
Feminists speak, but who listens?
Later in the interview, Thierry Frémaux significantly de-centered cinema from the #MeToo issue, stating: “In France the world of cinema is at the forefront of the debate [du débat #MeToo, ndlr.]. But we don’t think the rest of society shouldn’t wonder. »
In this, the general delegate of the festival escapes the fact that even if this violence really exists systemicthe world of cinema is plagued by it, which shapes representations and imagery, and also plays an important role in what is considered acceptable or not.
Thierry Frémaux assured him “Feminist associations give us the necessary information” and actresses “Tell us about the crazy things that happened on certain sets. » In other words, these testimonies exist, they speak, they act. But from the Cannes festival side the stillness and silence are deafening.
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Source: Madmoizelle
Mary Crossley is an author at “The Fashion Vibes”. She is a seasoned journalist who is dedicated to delivering the latest news to her readers. With a keen sense of what’s important, Mary covers a wide range of topics, from politics to lifestyle and everything in between.
