At the microphone of Europe 1 this Saturday, the Minister of Culture Franck Riester reacted to the three prizes received by Roman Polanski during the 45th Cesar ceremony. He says that celebrating the director of "J'accuse" is a "negative message" sent, while the release of speech on gender-based violence is happening across the country.

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He was absent Friday evening but has been talked about a lot. Filmmaker Roman Polanski, the subject of several rape charges, received the César for Best Director. His film, J'accuse was also awarded the César for best adaptation as well as for best costumes. But the prize for the best achievement aroused indignation and the departure from the Salle Pleyel of actress Adèle Haenel and the team from the film Portrait of the young girl on fire . The mistress of ceremonies, Florence Foresti, did not come back on stage and claimed to have been "disgusted".

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"The words of the victims must not be in vain"

At the microphone of Europe 1, Franck Riester, Minister of Culture who had already reacted to the twelve nominations of the director, returned to the three prizes which were awarded to Roman Polanski on Saturday evening. "Celebrating the man is a negative message sent at a time when the leaden scent on these sexual and sexist assaults is exploding in our country" declared Franck Riester, affirming that the word of Adèle Haenel, who had accused Christophe Ruggia of touching and sexual harassment, and of the other victims, "should not be in vain".

"The Caesar Academy must be more in tune with society"

"Whenever a César is awarded, it is a message that is transmitted to society," said Franck Riester, judging that the César for achievement not only rewarded the work, but also celebrated the man. behind the camera. "There are a large number of women who have suffered and continue to suffer from sexist and sexual assault and who do not understand that there can be a form of celebration of Roman Polanski", explains Franck Riester, affirming that he understood the reactions of the women who left the room to the announcement of the director's name.

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The Minister of Culture calls for a reform of the governance of the Academy of Caesar. "We will support the profession with the CNC so that there is a transformation of the governance of the Academy of Caesar and the code of the electoral college for more parity. The academy of Caesar must be more in tune with society, "he said.