Awarded at Cannes, this director who presented himself as an ally allegedly attacked 200 women

He won an award at Cannes in 2015 for his film Scorching sun (Un certain aware jury award). Croatian director Dalibor Matanic, 49, a national star, admitted in a long post on Facebook to having sexually assaulted several women. A message that follows some press articles published in recent days on the subject. The Croatian police opened an investigation, despite the absence of complaints.

The substantive argument that doesn’t hold up

According to the Croatian press, around 200 women were affected “inappropriate gestures and invitations and sending photos and messages of a sexual nature”.

On Facebook (the post is no longer accessible), the director brandished the addiction card : “All of this happened at times when I was under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Our job is terribly stressful, but that certainly doesn’t excuse my behavior.”. He announced that he will soon enter rehabilitation.

“It’s a terrible shock, because he presented himself as an ally”

The reactions were not long in coming. Women’s rights activist Sanja Sarnavka expressed her astonishment: “It’s a terrible shock, because he presented himself as an ally”. The director has often used his films as a tool to denounce patriarchal culture and violence against women.

As AFP notes, sexual violence and assault have long been considered taboo topics in the Balkans, where patriarchal values ​​remain deeply rooted in some regions. However, these questions have gained traction in recent years following the importation of the #metoo movement, and following a case in neighboring Serbia in which an actress accused her former drama teacher of rape, which had prompted thousands of women to testify to the murder in turn. sexist and sexual violence suffered.

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