Paris (AFP)

Secretary of State for Gender Equality, Marlène Schiappa, estimated on RTL Wednesday that "the world of French cinema had not finished its revolution" in terms of gender-based and sexual violence reacting to the fact that the latest film by Roman Polanski leads the nominations for the Césars.

"I wonder about the message that is sent, obviously the world of French cinema has not finished its revolution with regard to gender-based and sexual violence," she said.

"Just two years ago, I was at the César ceremony and it was placed under the aegis of #Metoo with a celebration of the appreciation of women, their words, their freedom in the world of cinema, what is this the message that the Academy of Caesar wants to send to women? ", she insisted.

Historical thriller on the Dreyfus affair with Jean Dujardin, awarded the Grand Jury Prize in Venice, "J'accuse" is in the running for twelve prizes for the supreme awards of French cinema, notably in the queen categories for best achievement and for the best movie.

"We are told all the time: + we must separate the man from the work +, very good, but there it is the man, it is to the man that we offer to give a reward, it he is also the one named, there are contradictory signals there, "she launched, evoking a contrario the film by Céline Sciamma (" Portrait of a young girl on fire ") which" carries a message from her. support for women's rights "and" celebrates women's freedom "

"We are sometimes told + you will break the careers of men by talking about the sexual violence they have committed, obviously it does not break the career at all, in any case of this man, it is rather for women who speak that it closes doors, "she added.

Asked about the position of the president of the Academy of Caesar Alain Terzian who affirmed that the Caesars were "not a body which must have moral positions", the minister replied: "It is not a question of morals ( ...), I don't do ethics I do law ".

"I believe that we do not respect women and especially women who speak of the sexual violence they have experienced (...)", she added. "#Metoo, it started with the cinema, there shouldn't be a setback for women with the cinema".

© 2020 AFP