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Johnny Depp on the red carpet in Cannes: return as king

Photo: Andreas Rentz / Getty Images

Even on the red carpet in front of the festival cinema in Cannes, the reception seemed warm: fans held up signs that read "Congrats, Johnny" and "We are sorry" with a heart. Johnny Depp, 59, had appeared with slicked-back hair and sunglasses at the premiere of "Jeanne du Barry", his first film after the court battle with his ex-wife Amber Heard.

In the historical drama, Depp plays a leading role as King Louis XV. »Jeanne du Barry« tells the story of the scandalous relationship between the French king and his mistress Marie-Jeanne Bécu in the late 1760s and early 1770s. Since Bécu came from a poor background, the relationship was a scandal.

The film crew posed on the red carpet and Depp signed autographs for a few minutes on the sidelines and took selfies with many enthusiastic fans. Hand in hand with the film's director, Maïwenn, who herself plays the title role of Jeanne, Johnny Depp entered the large cinema hall – greeted by the premiere audience with applause, which became louder when Depp's face was visible large on the video screen.

The choice of »Jeanne du Barry« as the opening film had caused controversy. In an op-ed for the newspaper »Libération«, a group of actors and actresses protested against »rolling out the red carpet for men and women who attack others.« It's a shame. Leaflets were distributed outside the cinema describing the opening film as a message that "the voices of the victims and their allies continue to be questioned, ignored and silenced."

In Great Britain, Johnny Depp, who is controversial because of allegations of domestic violence, may be called a "wife beater" according to a court order, while in the USA, the trial between him and his ex-wife Amber Heard, which was grotesquely inflated in the media, ended with compensation payments for both sides. In the USA, Depp is now considered uncast, but in Cannes everything is no problem: "I'm only interested in Johnny Depp as an actor," said festival director Thierry Frémaux at his press conference, the media hype around it is irrelevant for him.

Maïwenn Le Besco, director and leading actress of »Jeanne du Barry«, does not have to fear any consequences either. In February, she allegedly pulled Edwy Plenel, the editor-in-chief of the investigative online magazine Mediapart, by the hair in a restaurant and spat in his face. In a television interview, Maïwenn admitted to the attack.

After the screening of »Jeanne du Barry«, there was applause on Tuesday evening – not unusual for a festival opening film. But the extent of the standing ovation – the US magazine »Variety« reports seven minutes – touched Johnny Depp so much that he had to fight back tears.

A French Twitter user who describes herself as an "optimistic feminist activist" commented on the video of Johnny Depp winking at the camera with bitter sarcasm: "You can be grateful to Depp," and in the future you can always get this clip out when it is warned that #metoo allegations could destroy lives: "Not only do they not break anything, even if you are convicted, you can get your standing ovation in Cannes."

feb/dpa/Reuters