Actresses castigate the red carpet rolled out for Johnny Depp and Maïwenn
A collective of actresses and actors, including Julie Gayet and Laure Calamy, criticizes the Cannes Film Festival on Tuesday, which takes place “the red carpet for men and women who attack”in reference to Johnny Depp and director Maïwenn. “The Festival sends the message that in our country, we can continue to carry out violence with complete impunity”adds this collective in a forum published by Release.
The 76e edition of the Festival is marked by the return of Johnny Depp in the opening film, Jeanne du Barry, after he was dismissed from the sets in recent years following accusations of domestic violence by his ex-girlfriend Amber Heard. The director of the film, Maïwenn, is much criticized after attacking the boss of MediapartEdwy Plenel.
According to this forum, “French cinema has integrated a dysfunctional system that crushes and annihilates (…)based on the principles of domination and silencing”. Supporting Adèle Haenel’s decision to leave the world of cinema, the signatories deplore “that this environment is toxic to the point of wanting to leave it completely”.
Among the signatories is Ophélie Bau, one of the stars of Mektoub, My Love: Intermezzo, of Abdellatif Kechiche, believing that his contract had not been respected regarding the use of an unsimulated oral sex scene. Also signatories, Clotilde Hesme, Jérémie Renier, Agathe Bonitzer, Romane Bohringer, Géraldine Nakache, Melvin Boomer and Zinedine Soualem.
Asked about the choice of Jeanne du Barry for the opening of Cannes, the general delegate of the Festival, Thierry Frémaux, replied that he is interested in Johnny Depp “as an actor” and that his performance in this film in is ” extraordinary “ : “I have only one conduct in life, the freedom to think, to speak, to act within the framework of the law”he added.
Asked at a press conference about the presence of Johnny Depp, actress Brie Larson, member of the jury, dodged the question. Very committed to #MeToo, she stood out in 2017 on the Oscars stage by refusing to applaud actor Casey Affleck, accused of sexual harassment.