"Why did so many people vote for J'accuse ?" Because they just like the film! »In the world of cinema, the twelve nominations collected this Wednesday by Polanski's film for the Césars are not surprising… and the debate around the advisability of rewarding a filmmaker recently accused of rape in a post- # MeToo context leaves some totally indifferent.
A small selection of (anonymous) comments from members of the Académie des Césars who chose "J'accuse" during this first round: "I voted for Polanski as best director because I chose a work", " I am not going to replace justice ”,“ If we vote in all honesty, the film is not bad at all ”… All swear to have been guided by purely cinematographic criteria.
"We can't throw everything away because of Polanski"
Some justify their choice by the strength of Polanski's script - "Making a film about the Dreyfus affair while anti-Semitism is galloping back, it's very important," says a technician. On the other hand, the desire to reward a team. Director Xavier Beauvois thus claims to have voted for Louis Garrel in the category "best actor for a supporting role" because he finds it "formidable" in the film by Roman Polanski.
VIDEO. Polanski at the Césars: "We are not an instance of debate", says Alain Terzian
“Behind the director, there is a cinematographer, an incredible cast… We can't throw everything away because of Polanski. At the Césars, we vote for a team, ”explains the filmmaker. Who concedes, however, that "voting for Polanski in the best director category is something else": "With the accumulation of accusations against him, it's still tricky. "
Professional support for Polanski?
The "Polanski vote" was not unanimous, however. Within the Academy, some members are indignant at the plebiscite around the filmmaker. "I am outraged by these appointments," says a technician recently cesarized. Given recent revelations, this is out of place. And then, Polanski is not a director who needs the recognition of the Caesars. "This professional believes that the many nominations of" J'accuse "show support for the profession to Polanski:" When a feature film is named in so many categories, it is because people vote for the person who wear the film. "
César winner of the best adaptation in 2019 for "Les Chatouilles", an autobiographical film on a young girl sexually abused, Andréa Bescond had signed in December a petition asking that "J'accuse" be disqualified from the European cinema awards. For the past few weeks, she has heard her colleagues defend Polanski by hammering that putting him aside would be "like censoring Céline or Gauguin".
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“Twelve appointments and twelve rape charges: Polanski is fitting! She quips. “The artists' mission is to be ahead of society. There, the Académie des Césars shows that it is lagging behind, ”she regrets. The director is nevertheless delighted with the nominations for “Portrait of the young girl on fire” with Adèle Haenel or “Thanks to God” on pedophilia in the Church: “Things are moving in the right direction, but there is still a lot of resistance. "