It’s like Johnny Depp is back in his prime. The American actor was the star of the red carpet at the opening of the Cannes Film Festival on Tuesday. First with black glasses and later without them, he signed autographs and took pictures with fans. At the end of the evening, he received a seven-minute standing ovation for the opening film Jeanne Du Barry, in which he portrayed the French king Louis XV.
The film Jeanne du Barry with the subtitle The King’s Mistress will be shown in Czech cinemas by Film Europe. | Video: Film Europe
It is the first film in which the 59-year-old Hollywood actor has been given a leading role since winning the highly watched trial with ex-wife Amber Heard.
The French Riviera welcomed Depp with open arms. People were waiting for him with banners that read “Congratulations Johnny” or “We’re so sorry” accompanied by a picture of a heart. On the red carpet, fans chanted Depp’s name repeatedly, according to the AP. It took the actor five minutes to make his way through the crowd and the forest of raised hands that wanted to touch him.
Others, however, were more critical. A campaign has spread across social networks criticizing the 76th edition of the festival for “celebrating rapists for 76 years”. This internet protest was organized by supporters of Amber Heard. She was sued by Depp over mutual allegations of domestic violence. The situation was not helped by the fact that the opening film with Depp was made by French director and actress Maïwenn, who criticized the #MeToo movement and is now facing a lawsuit over how she spat in the face of a journalist in a Paris restaurant last month.
At Tuesday’s gala, Depp walked into the festival cinema while symbolically holding Maïwenn’s hand.
Festival director Thierry Fremaux defended the decision to open the show with Depp. “I’m really not interested in his trial, which is constantly denied by the media. I’m interested in only one thing: Depp as an actor,” he was quoted as saying by the AFP agency.
A photo from the film shows Maïwenn as Jeanne du Barry and Johnny Depp as Louis XV. | Photo: Stephanie Branchu
Jeanne du Barry’s film is named after the mistress of King Louis XV, played by the director herself, Maïwenn. Jeanne du Barry was born the illegitimate daughter of a poor Parisian seamstress and grew up in a convent. Thanks to her intelligence, charm and freer manners, she climbed the social ladder. From a saleswoman, a courtesan and the boss of a luxurious brothel, she turned into the last lover of Louis XV.
In the film, a passionate relationship develops between the French king and his lover, now Countess Jeanne du Barry. Despite all conventions and manners, she moves to Versailles, where the arrival, dress and manners of the former prostitute cause a scandal. Madame du Barry lived from 1743 to 1793, the reign of Louis XV. lasted almost sixty years.
The film’s gala premiere in Cannes on Tuesday ended with a seven-minute standing ovation, and one audience member in the back rows cried during the closing credits, mentions in a review by Variety.com. According to him, the director Maïwenn also had tears in her eyes, due to Depp’s engagement, it was more difficult for her to raise money for the project. The substance is also important to her personally, she did the research with breaks for almost ten years.
Not everyone will like the film, but Maïwenn did not shoot it with such a goal, the server continues. According to him, this is a relatively provocative, yet in some respects gentle portrait of a woman who found her way to the top through a combination of her charm, tactics and intrigue and never stopped defending herself against her critics.
“The director will also face sharp criticism, but Maïwenn really belongs to the leading filmmakers and her film cannot be taken lightly,” wrote Variety.com, according to which the new film, despite certain shortcomings, tries to get to the emotional core of the unusual relationship between the king and his lover.
Dle British newspaper Guardian is a narrative and relatively entertaining film, but the casting of Depp as the king overshadows other strengths of the work. The filmmaker didn’t seem to know how to direct a closely watched celebrity, and if she had chosen a different actor, the audience could have focused more on the film’s protagonist. In addition, despite the undeniable efforts of both actors, there is not enough chemistry between the king and Jeanne du Barry on screen, the Guardian thinks.
The film Jeanne du Barry with the subtitle The King’s Mistress will be shown in Czech cinemas by the distribution company Film Europe, the premiere date is not yet known.
Video: Depp’s win may open a new #MeToo chapter, Cigler says
“Johnny Depp has never lost his name among fans, but doubts will remain with part of the public for a long time,” said journalist Jana Ciglerová on DVtv last year. | Video: Michael Rozsypal
