Amidst the media uproar surrounding the participation of American actor Johnny Depp, the competition kicked off at the 76th Cannes Film Festival, on Tuesday evening, with the movie “Monster” by Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-eda, followed by “Le Retour” by French Catherine Corsini.
Director Hirokazu Kore-eda was previously awarded the Palme d’Or in 2018 for his film “Une affaire de famille”. He then shot films in France with Catherine Deneuve and Juliette Binoche’s “La Vérité” and in South Korea’s “Les Bonnes Etoiles”, which was in competition last year.
This year’s Cannes Festival is witnessing the participation of Arab countries, such as Tunisia, in the official competition with the movie “Banat Intimacy”. Algeria is participating in the “Midnight” screenings, and Morocco is presenting four films in the “Un Certain Regard” and “Directors’ Half Month” categories, as well as “Cinema Schools”. The current session also witnesses the participation of Sudan and Jordan for the first time.
Johnny Depp’s engagement controversy
Prior to the launch of the event, American actor Johnny Depp received a warm welcome among a group of big stars such as Uma Thurman, Michael Douglas and Catherine Deneuve, despite criticism from feminist parties of this attention given to a person who was the subject of a lawsuit for domestic violence.
And in a black suit, hair styled in a ponytail and sunglasses, the star of the movie “Pirates of the Caribbean” regained the rite of passage on the red carpet, after he was banned from filming films by Hollywood studios since the judicial series in which he confronted his ex-wife, Amber Hurd, against the background of accusations of abuse.
Aside from the mutual scandals during the trial, which enjoyed great follow-up, and the accusations of violence, the basis of which was not considered by the verdict and the actor’s persistence in denying them, Johnny Depp took a series of selfies and signed dedications on the red carpet, before attending the opening party presented by actress Kiara Mastroianni, and next to him the French director and actress. Mayween.
The latter chose him to play the character of King Louis XV in her movie “Jeanne du Barry”, which was shown at the opening of the festival, which sparked criticism from feminist parties.
Anger and rejection
In response to a question about choosing the film to open the event, the festival’s general delegate, Thierry Frémaux, confirmed his interest in Johnny Depp “as an actor,” describing his work performance as “exceptional.” He said, “I only have one behavior in life, which is freedom of thought, expression and action within the framework of the law.”
Fremo confirmed that he did not follow the court series, which received great media coverage and ended with Depp’s victory in the defamation trial that took place in the United States. Amber Heard faced a barrage of attacks that were often male in nature. Since then, the actress has been absent from the public scene, after she “lost confidence in the American judicial system,” she said.
When asked by “Agence France Presse” about her decision to seek the help of Johnny Depp, Maywen explained that she filmed her movie “last summer, shortly after the end of his second trial.” She said, “I had many fears, and I asked myself: What will his image become?”
Several feminist organizations expressed their dissatisfaction with the celebration of Johnny Depp, including the “Osez le feminisme” movement (dare feminism), which called for a boycott of the festival. Various feminist groups also said that “the sense of impunity that arises (from the selection of this film to open the festival) disgusts us.”
She criticized a group of French actresses and actors in charge of the Cannes Film Festival, for “making the red carpet available to violent men and women,” referring to actor Johnny Depp and director Maywen, who in turn is facing a lawsuit, after she recently attacked the head of the “Mediapart” media network Edwi Plenel inside. one of the restaurants.
In an article published by the French newspaper “Liberation”, French actors and actresses, including Julie Gaye and Laurie Calami, wrote: “We feel great indignation, and we refuse to remain silent about the positions of those in charge of the Cannes Film Festival.”
“By making the red carpet available to violent men and women, the festival sends the message that in our country we can continue to practice violence with complete impunity, and that violence is acceptable in creative fields,” the letter added.
These attitudes come about six years after the launch of the “MeToo” movement against sexual assault, while the signs of a slow start to restore gender balance in a sector traditionally dominated by men.
A female presence in Cannes
The festival was keen to adopt parity between women and men in membership of the jury (without counting its president). This year, there is a record number of female directors, with seven women vying for the Palme d’Or, out of a total of 21 films in competition.
And when asked at a press conference about Johnny Depp’s presence, Brie Larson, a member of the jury, evaded the response. The name of this actress, who is strongly involved in the “Me Too” movement, was circulated widely in 2017, due to her refusal to applaud the actor Casey Affleck, who is accused of sexual harassment, during the Oscars party.
These embarrassing questions in the world of cinema did not overshadow the luster of the opening ceremony of the festival, which witnessed the traditional passage of stars, but in smaller numbers compared to last year, during which a festive version of the diamond jubilee of the ancient cinematic event was held.
Among the stars of the opening ceremony: Helen Mirren, in a sky blue look from dress to hair, Chinese actress Gong Li, in a black dress with a round neck, and Mads Mikkelsen, who is participating in the new “Indiana Jones” movie, the most prominent work presented at the festival.
The festival paid tribute to one of the brightest names in Hollywood, actor Michael Douglas, who received an honorary Palme d’Or from the hands of star Uma Thurman, who described him as “an eternal star and a brilliant artist.”
After that, the opening of this 76th edition of the festival was officially announced by Catherine Deneuve, along with her daughter Chiara Mastroianni, after reciting a poem in support of the Ukrainians.
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