Adèle Haenel calls on the French film industry to protect ‘sexual attackers’: they will ‘do anything to protect their rapist bosses’

Photo of author


Adèle Haenel, French star of the Cannes Award-winning film “portrait of a woman on fire,” disappeared from the film world after the 2020 César . That year, Roman Polanski won Best Director and Heinle, who was in fray for her nomination with “Portrait of a Lady on Fire,” won Polanski She erupted in anger upon hearing the name and stormed out of the ceremony, shouting “Bravo pedophilia!”

Several months ago Haenel accused the French director Christophe Rugia She was sexually assaulted for years, starting when she was just 12 years old, leading to the birth of France's #MeToo movement. Since then, Haenel has exited the film biz to devote himself to political activism as well as theater and dance with artist Gisele Wien. She recently appeared on French TV to support a strike and protest against the country's unpopular pension reform.

More From Variety

While some expected her to eventually return to acting after being briefly attached to Bruno Dumont's next film “The Empire”, Haenel denounced the local industry's complacency towards sexual assaulters and published an open letter Did. mukti newspaperexplained that his decision to retire was a political act.

In his letter, Haenel pointed to a recent investigation by Mediapart into Gérard Depardieu, who has continued to receive roles despite being accused of sexual violence and rape by 13 women. Haenel also mentioned Dominique Boutonnat, president of the national film board, who was reappointed to a second term at France's biggest film body last July, despite being convicted of sexual assault.

See also  Henry Winkler on That 'Barry' Series Finale Shocker: "I Was Speechless"

Below are some key excerpts from Haenel's open letter, translated from French:

“I have decided to politicize my exit from the film industry in order to condemn my complacency towards sexual assaulters.”

“Let's put it plainly: as biodiversity collapses, Europe gets militarized and hunger and misery spread, why is the film world — collective at the César Awards to promote its films haphazardly gathered – obsessively eager to stay ‘luminous'?to make sure they talk about ‘nothing'.

“In the context of the historic social movement, we wait to see whether the big players in the film industry are expecting – like the sponsors of the luxury industry – the police force to ensure that the red carpet at Cannes is always clean. Everything happens like a film festival.”

“Meanwhile they all join hands to save face of Depardieu, Pokanski and Boutonnat. It bothers them and bothers them that the victims make too much ; they would prefer it if we kept disappearing and dying in silence.” Stay. They are willing to do anything to defend their rapacious chiefs, who are so rich that they believe they belong to a superior species, demonstrating this superiority… objectifying women and subordinates. By doing

“I have no other weapon than my body and my integrity. Cancel culture in the primary sense: You have money, power and money, you take pleasure in it, but you will not have me as your spectator. I cancel you from my world. I quit, I go on strike, I join my peers whose search for meaning and dignity trumps money and power.

See also  Succession to end with feature-length series finale

best of variety

sign up for Variety's newsletter, Follow us for latest news Facebook, TwitterAnd Instagram,

Click here to read the full article.