In protest, feminists warm up by mocking "Violanski" and the Césars

• A counter-ceremony was organized 200 meters from the César ceremony to protest against the 12 nominations from which director Roman Polanski, condemned by the American justice in the Samantha Geimer case, had benefited.
• The director of J'accuse, who fled his country, is still considered by Interpol to be a fugitive, and can only move freely in three countries: France, Poland and Switzerland.
• The feminist activists gathered in Paris are demanding an ambitious reform of the Académie des César and an “awareness” of French cinema.
  

"Anger keeps you warm," says the spokesperson for Dare feminism Alix Chazeau-Guibert, standing in the cold, Place des Ternes, in Paris. She arrived well before the start of the feminist rally, some 200 meters from the Salle Pleyel, where the César ceremony is held, for which the director Roman Polanski is nominated twelve times, as much as the number of women who accuse of sexual violence. A scandal for the 200 people gathered with placards and slogans, and for Alix Chazeau-Guibert: “We are here to support the victims of Polanski, to show that their word is sustained. He dares to speak in his press release of "fantasies of unhealthy spirits", but it is ironic on the part of someone accused of such acts. "

"Down with the patriarchy"; "Violanski nominated, silent victims", "I accuse Violanski" ... In the square, signs with classic slogans mingle with the suitcase words formed with the words "rape" and "Polanski". This last sign is stretched at arm's length by a regular of the demonstrations, blue k-way and sunglasses on the nose, high enough for his work to be visible to all. But at this hour, barely 6 pm, there are "almost more journalists than activists", loose in a smile Eliane Viennot, one of the most tireless supporters of grammar rules non-sexist.

Place des Ternes, in Paris, at the Césars 2020 Counter-ceremony, where a dozen or so feminist associations will be represented. Thirty people so far pic.twitter.com/IpjjbcBdeK

"Complicit cinema, rapist Polanski"

Next to the signs with drawings of a wide open eye are distributed to the participants by NousToutes, a collective among the dozen who had promised to meet this evening. Anaïs, an activist of the collective, added tears of blood to it, because, she says, "it's painful, we cry with blood but we see everything". “These 12 nominations reveal something about French cinema. This protects and perpetuates the rape culture. The omerta continues when we remain silent, ”comments Yuna Miralles, a spokesperson for the feminist movement, organizer of the march against violence on November 23, 2019.

About what, 200 people now Place des Ternes, of all ages, some with pretty and sad signs of eyes crying with blood 🩸 # Cesar2020 pic.twitter.com/jeT8ouTm9P

"Cinema accomplice, rapist Polanski", chant activists, while the Place des Ternes fills, with some 200 people, at first sight. Next to it, Adriana holds a sign "Shame on a profession that protects rapists", clutching a green and orange scarf, the colors of the pro-abortion fights and for the separation of Church and State in Latin America. This 63-year-old Argentinian, Peruvian hat on her head and electric blue glasses, is indignant at the "hypocrisy" of French cinema, according to her, capable of praising Roman Polanski and Adèle Haenel at the same time (Les accusations de l ' actress against director have launched an investigation for "sexual assault" and the indictment of the director). The same goes for activist Suzy Rojtman, of the national collective for women's rights, who laments the "schizophrenia" of French cinema.

Adèle Haenel, star of activists

In hollow, like a proud answer to Polanski, the actress of Portrait of the girl on fire is in everyone's heads. She has become a model for many young feminist women, such as Rosalie, and her three high school girlfriends: “I would have come just for her. When one asks the demonstrators for their ideal prize list, it is Céline Sciamma's film that systematically comes to mind.

"On March 8, are you aware that we are all arresting?" A woman of another generation approaches the schoolgirls, her arms full of leaflets. Florence Montreynaud, a former member of the Women's Liberation Movement (MLF), created the Watchdogs. In addition to the upcoming strike, the reform of the Academy of the Caesars is discussed.

What all of them are now waiting for is “awareness” and real reforms on the side of the Academy of the Caesars, currently made up of 35% female members. "If there are more women it will change the way we look at the works," argues Yuna Miralles. "I am waiting for a diverse Academy that will change the world of cinema," says Alix Chazeau-Guibert, unrolling the figures: 55% women in film schools, but only 21% of films made by women. The OLF spokesperson also calls for quotas in the cinema, for a better distribution of subsidies.

If there was sometimes a real disappointment in the air this evening, some want to remain optimistic. Like Hélène, 28, from the Humans for women association: “Things change so slowly. But it's because we protest that it changes. "

Culture

César 2020 LIVE: Follow the ceremony with us

Cinema

César 2020: Like Roman Polanski, the team from the film “J'accuse” will not go to the ceremony

• Roman Polanski
• Caesar 2020
• Culture
• Feminism
• Ceremony