Feminist associations and personalities, angry at the 12 Cesar nominations for Roman Polanski's film J'accuse , published an "open letter" in the daily Le Parisien on Tuesday to call film professionals who will vote on 28 February at the ceremony, to "refuse to decorate" the director, accused by twelve women of sexual violence, including seven who did it in their own name.
“Polanski exploits the Dreyfus affair to rehabilitate itself”
Among the associations, there are organizations well established in the feminist landscape, such as Dare Feminism!, Family Planning, or the Feminist Collective Against Rape. But also personalities, like Hélène Bidard, assistant to the Mayor of Paris in charge of equality between women and men.
“In 2018 at the Césars, you displayed a number of the white ribbon #MaintenantOnAgit against male violence. In 2019, you supported Adèle Haenel, her courage and her truth (…). In 2020, you have the responsibility to take a stand, "write these personalities who believe that" Polanski uses his notoriety, instrumentalizes the Dreyfus affair to rehabilitate and pose as a victim while he is an executioner ".
Among the twelve charges against Roman Polanski, all the facts are now prescribed. No one can be prosecuted, except the first case, that involving Samantha Geimer, because these facts were recognized at the time by the author himself, and proceedings were initiated. This 13-year-old girl at the time of the events accused her of having drugged and raped her. If the trial did not take place, it is because Roman Polanski himself fled it: in 1977, after having spent 42 days in prison, and on the eve of the hearing which was to certify his plead- guilty, when the judge had turned and wanted to condemn him harsher, Roman Polanski flew to France, which then refused to extradite him.
Feminist associations call to gather at the site of the Cesar ceremony, in front of the Salle Pleyel, on February 28, 2020, at 6 p.m.
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Polanski accused of rape: why we cannot distinguish the artist from his work
- Roman Polanski
- Movie
- Culture
- Feminism
- Sexual violence
- Dare feminism
- Family planning