Paris (AFP)

A Cesar for best director for Roman Polanksi would be "a bad symbol", judged the Minister of Culture Franck Riester Friday morning on France Info.

A Cesar for best director for Roman Polanksi "would be a bad symbol compared to the necessary awareness that we must all have in the fight against sexual and gender-based violence, it is up to each and every one of the voters (...) to take responsibility, "said the minister.

On the other hand, the political leader does not see any objection to a César of better film, estimating that "J'accuse" is the work of a "team" and that there is "no reason to penalize the collective in relation to a possibly punishable behavior of one of the artists ".

In addition, Mr. Riester understands the decision - "she is wise" - of Roman Polanski not to come to attend the César ceremony this Friday evening. "With what has happened, for many years, with a number of women who said they were assaulted by Roman Polanski, his presence this evening would obviously have been a source of tension."

"This question of Roman Polanski and of the film + J'accuse + (...) is very complicated. We must not mix up works and artists - in any case men who are artists - because a work must be protected. I am the guarantor of freedom of creation and free access to works of art and spirit, "said the Minister.

"It is important to make sure, to say, that it is not because we are an artist, even reputed, even of talent, that we have a guarantee of impunity, it is important to clearly differentiate the things, "he said.

The 45th Cesar ceremony is held on Friday evening under high tension, against a background of expected reforms - notably on parity - and strong protests against the 12 nominations of Roman Polanski's "J'accuse". The annual high mass of French cinema will start around 9:00 p.m. She looks agitated.

Illustration of this explosive climate, it will be preceded at 6:00 p.m. by a rally at the call of feminist associations, including #NousToutes et Dare feminisme, to protest against the numerous nominations of "J'accuse".

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