Highlights: French director Justine Triet took advantage of the platform to launch an attack on the French government's policy on culture and pensions. The 76th edition of the Cannes Film Festival opened twelve days ago under the threat of a power cut by the CGT. After receiving the prize from Jane Fonda, Triet denounced the "commodification of culture that the neoliberal government defends" French Culture Minister Rima Abdul Malak immediately responded, saying she was "stunned by his unfair speech"

Awarded the Palme d'Or at Cannes for Anatomy of a Fall, French director Justine Triet took advantage of the platform to launch an attack on the French government's policy on...

Cannes: Palme d'Or Justine Triet attacks government policy

Awarded the Palme d'Or at Cannes for Anatomy of a Fall, French director Justine Triet took advantage of the platform to launch an attack on the French government's policy on culture and pensions.

French director Justine Triet, winner of the Palme d'Or at the 76th edition of the Cannes Film Festival. Saturday, May 27, 2023. REUTERS - GONZALO FUENTES

Text by: RFI Follow

Advertising

The 76th edition of the Cannes Film Festival opened twelve days ago under the threat of a power cut by the CGT. It was finally through the Palme d'Or-winning director that the social movement in France invited itself to the Croisette. After receiving the prize from Jane Fonda, thanking her teams and the members of the jury, Justine Triet, third woman in sacred history at Cannes, denounced the "commodification of culture that the neoliberal government defends". Crowned for her Anatomy of a Fall, the filmmaker also accused the executive of "breaking the French cultural exception", the complex system of financing in France, "without which (she) would not be here today".

She also reviewed the months of mobilization in France against the very unpopular pension reform that raised the retirement age from 62 to 64 and was adopted without a vote in the National Assembly. "The country has been crossed by an extremely powerful and unanimous historic protest against the pension reform," she said, assuring that this movement had been "shockingly denied", in accordance with a "domineering power scheme, more and more uninhibited".

French Culture Minister Rima Abdul Malak immediately responded. She said she was "stunned by his unfair speech": "This film could not have seen the light of day without our French model of film financing, which allows a diversity that is unique in the world. Let's not forget that," she wrote on social media.

Happy to see the Palme d'Or awarded to Justine Triet, the 10th for the France! But stunned by his speech so unfair. This film would not have been possible without our French film financing model, which allows for a diversity that is unique in the world. Let us not forget that.

Cannes: Palme d'Or Justine Triet attacks government policy

Cannes: Palme d'Or Justine Triet attacks government policy

You may like

Trends 24h

Latest