Franck Riester: "A Caesar for Polanski would be a bad symbol"

A Cesar for best director for Roman Polanksi would be "a bad symbol", judged the Minister of Culture Franck Riester Friday morning on France Info.

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A Cesar for best director for Roman Polanksi "would be a bad symbol compared to the necessary awareness that we must all have in the fight against sexual and gender-based violence, it is up to each and every voter (...) to take responsibility, " said the minister.

»READ ALSO - The government is divided on the presence of Roman Polanski in the selection of Cesars

On the other hand, the political leader does not see any inconvenience with a César of better film, estimating that J'accuse is the work of a "team" and that there is "no reason to penalize the collective in relation to the possibly punishable behavior of one of the artists ” .

With what has happened, for many years, with a number of women who said they were assaulted by Polanski, his presence this evening would obviously have been a source of tension

In addition, Mr. Riester understands the decision - "she is wise" -, of Roman Polanski not to come to attend the César ceremony this Friday evening. "With what has happened, for many years, with a number of women who said they were attacked by Roman Polanski, his presence this evening would obviously have been a source of tension."

Then the minister added: "It is very complicated this question of Roman Polanski and the film J'accuse (...) we must not mix up works and artists - at least the men who are artists - because a work must be protected. I am the guarantor of freedom of creation and of free access to works of art and the mind ”.

Franck Riester finally reiterated the thesis he had developed in November 2019: "It is important to make sure, to say, that it is not because we are an artist, even renowned, even talented, that 'We have a guarantee of impunity, it is important to differentiate things well'.

The 45th Cesar ceremony is held on Friday evening under high tension, against a background of expected reforms - notably on parity -, and lively protests against the 12 nominations of Roman Polanski's J'accuse . The annual high mass of French cinema will start around 9 p.m. She looks agitated.

Illustration of this explosive climate, it will be preceded at 6 p.m. by a rally at the call of feminist associations, including #NousToutes and Dare feminism, to protest against the numerous nominations of J'accuse .

● J'accuse de Roman Polanski, in 2019, with Jean Dujardin, Louis Garrel ...