The Cesars 2020 and the victory of Polanski seen by the foreign press

Of the Cesar 2020, an image will undoubtedly remain. That of Adèle Haenel leaving the Salle Pleyel, followed by a dozen people, after the César's announcement of the best achievement for Roman Polanski. In any case, this is the moment retained by the foreign press, which examined this 45th Cesar ceremony.

"Cesar Controversy", headlines Variety on its website. On Entertaiment Weekly, we can read "Spectators come out after Roman Polanski wins the Best Director award at the César Awards". "Roman Polanski won a new award for his work on Friday night, but there was more hoot than cheering from the audience," wrote journalist Maureen Lee Lenker. “(…) French actress Adèle Haenel quickly left the room at the announcement of the victory [by Polanski], followed by others, including director Céline Sciamma and actress Noémie Merlant. "

"More than 100 angry demonstrators"

"The Academy of French Cinema has ignored a street full of protesters and a furious online army of critics to give Polanski the highest honor for a director this Friday," writes Scott Roxborough for The Hollywood Reporter . “Actress Adèle Haenel was visibly upset when the name of Polanski was announced. She left the room. Several others followed. The departure of Adèle Haenel and the victory of Roman Polanski were in the headlines this Saturday morning from several specialized English-speaking sites, including IndieWire.

The Guardian headlines him about the demonstrations around the ceremony: "Roman Polanski wins the prize for best director at the French Oscars in the middle of the demonstrations". "More than 100 angry protesters gathered to demonstrate against the honor of the controversial director, who is still wanted by the United States after pleading guilty to rape of a 13-year-old minor, but having fled before to be tried in 1977, "recalls Kim Willsher.

"The tension was palpable in the room"

The Spanish daily El País echoes the atmosphere during the ceremony: “The tension was palpable in the room, filled with artists who, in recent weeks, had openly expressed their irritation at the 'Film Academy, even if they did not take advantage of their speeches to denounce it'. Correspondent Silvia Ayuso also recalls: “It has been 20 years [that a woman, Tonie Marshall, received the prize for best achievement]. A victory for Céline Sciamma for Portrait of the young girl on fire could have changed history tonight, but it will take another year. "

Variety also returns to the controversy that preceded the ceremony, and the Academy's refusal to let Claire Denis and Virginie Despentes sponsor "Hopes". “Ironically, notes the journalist, Denis was the one who announced the price for directing for Polanski on stage, provoking many reactions on social networks. "

The Cesars made Claire Denis present Best Director to Polanski? There's insult, there's injury, and then there's something else.

"The Césars have awarded the Best achievement to Polanski by Claire Denis? There is insult, there is insult, and then there is something else ”, writes independent critic Guy Lodge.

"Rewarding Polanski sends a very clear message"

Still for Variety , Adèle Haenel "seemed to be the big favorite" for the prize for female interpretation, which ultimately went to Anais Desmoustier for Alice and the mayor. "The snub to Haenel raised eyebrows in the press room, knowing that she was at the forefront of the #MeToo movement in France after accusing French director Christophe Ruggia of harassment when she was twelve years old," writes Elsa Keslassy.

“Céline Sciamma and Adèle Haenel have spoken a lot in their critiques of sexism and abuse in the French film industry. Haenel bravely testified against the director who abused her when she was a child. Rewarding Polanski sends a very clear message about the lives that matter in this environment, ”said critic Kayleigh Donaldson, who writes for the ScreenRant site, on Twitter.

Celine Sciamma & Adele Haenel have been vocal in their criticisms of the sexism & abuses within the French film industry. Haenel bravely spoke out against the director who abused her as a child. Rewarding Polanski sends a very clear message on whose lives matter in that business.

Roman Polanski's victory at the César should not fail to make the cinema world react. This Saturday morning, actress Jessica Chastain, one of the headliners of the Time's Up movement against sexual harassment, also expressed her admiration for Adèle Haenel and her release.

Adèle Haenel, who was abused by a director, left the # César awards when they gave best director to Polanski.
I FUCKING STAN https://t.co/BsJHIO3SuI

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• Roman Polanski
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• Adele Haenel
• Caesar 2020
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