Justin Triet’s comments on the role of the state in the film sector are divided

By winning the Palme d’Or on Saturday, May 27, “Justin Triet took out his basket”, – wrote the former president of the Cannes Film Festival, Gilles Jacob. Directoranatomy of a fall Received the award from Jane Fonda, the first to condemn the way the government had been “shockingly rejected” Protest against the pension reform. He then went on to give a very political speech on the state and the seventh art, which proved extremely divisive. “The commodification of culture championed by the neoliberal government is in the process of breaking through the French cultural exception, the same cultural exception without which I would not be here today.”started by the film director.

This announcement was met with applause by some of the audience at the Louis-Lumiere Amphitheater, but angered others. As part of the Cannes Film Festival, which represents all moviegoers on the planet and this year honored Ukraine and Iran, the French system is the envy of the people. Minister of Culture Rima Abdul-Malak immediately announced on Twitter “surprised” by “such an unfair word”. He explained: “This film would not have seen the light of day without our French model! » The minister repeated his reprimand the next day on the air of BFM-TV: “I consider it ungrateful and unfair. » Especially since eight days earlier he announced an unprecedented aid plan for film studios and training in the amount of 350 million euros. And that the state has supported this sector during the Covid-19 pandemic, with 430 million direct support and more than a billion euros for intermittent contractors. “Justin Triet’s speech clearly has an ideological background from the far left”. said the minister.

The political controversy simmered all weekend. On the one hand, Cannes Mayor David Lisnard (Les Républicains) criticized on Twitter “The speech of a spoiled child and so conformist who won the prestigious Palme d’Or for his subsidized film. routine”. Roland Lescourt, delegate of the Minister of Industry, was ironic in his speech “An anatomy of the ingratitude of a profession we help so much…and an art we love so much.”

Financing of French cinema

However, on the left, Jean-Luc Melenchon, leader of La France insoumise (LFI) welcomed “courage” and “talent” By Justin Triet. Olivier Fauré, number one of the Socialist Party (PS), launched: “Thank you ma’am for the neck brace” And the National Secretary of the French Communist Party (PCF) Fabien Roussel criticized it “The commodification of culture. Congratulations to Justin Triet (…) For his word that strikes so hard.’