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On December 20th, French President Emmanuel Macron appeared on a 135-minute interview on French television, covering various topics including the new immigration law, the upcoming bill on assisted dying, the ongoing war in Ukraine, and the conflict between Israel and Hamas. During the interview, he was questioned about Gérard Depardieu, a case that has sparked division in France. Despite the potential wisdom in staying silent, Macron did not hold back and shared his thoughts on the matter.
“I will never participate in a search for a man,” he stated. When asked about the removal of the Légion d’honneur from the actor, which was initiated by his culture minister Rima Abdul Malak, Macron responded directly to the interviewer, saying, “The Légion d’honneur is not a symbol of morality.” He also mentioned that his culture minister had acted prematurely. Macron expressed his admiration for the actor and noted that Depardieu had brought pride to France. There was an immediate negative response to this statement.
In 2018, Charlotte Arnould took legal action against Depardieu, accusing him of committing rape. At the time, Arnould was a 22-year-old aspiring actress and had been invited to the actor’s home where she alleges the assault took place. She returned to Depardieu’s home six days later, where she claims she was raped again. The case was dismissed after a nine-month investigation, with the police determining that there was no evidence of coercion after reviewing CCTV footage from Depardieu’s home during the time of Arnould’s visits. Arnould contested the prosecutor’s decision and in 2020, the case was reopened. The new investigation is currently ongoing.
In April of this year, the investigative news site Mediapart, which is known for its tenacious pursuit of those in positions of power, released a series of pieces in which 13 women came forward with allegations of sexist comments and inappropriate touching by the actor on the sets of 11 films made between 2004 and 2022. Only one of the women, Hélène Darras, filed a legal complaint against the actor for groping her while she was working as an extra on the set of Disco in 2007. Depardieu has refuted the allegations made against him.
The TV documentary “Gérard Depardieu: The Fall of an Ogre” aired on December 7, but it was the catalyst for what is now known as l’affaire Depardieu. The state broadcaster obtained leaked footage of the actor’s 2018 visit to North Korea, where he was seen making inappropriate comments about women. Gone is his usual clever and humorous demeanor; instead, he attempts to make tasteless jokes that only come across as pathetic and embarrassing. It is reminiscent of a car crash in English, but in French, we would refer to it as a shipwreck.
The images sparked two responses within the country. It has even seemed like a conflict between different generations, with the older and younger generations at odds. However, my generation, born in the mid-70s, has tried to bridge the gap and maintain peace in our homeland of France. The women who accused Depardieu feel vindicated as his words serve as proof of his alleged sexual misconduct. They are now questioning the integrity of the entire French film industry and their voices are growing louder in their anger. As a result, Canada has revoked Depardieu’s national order of Québec and the Grévin Museum in Paris (the French equivalent of Madame Tussauds) has removed his wax figure. At 75 years old, Depardieu has been dropped from future film projects and it appears that his career may be over. Similarly, Kevin Spacey’s career came to a halt in 2017 after facing sexual assault allegations, although he was ultimately found not guilty earlier this year.
However, there is a different perspective in France that argues Depardieu’s current situation has been blown out of proportion and requests that judgment be withheld. Like any other citizen, Depardieu should be presumed innocent until proven guilty. This viewpoint acknowledges that his celebrity status makes him more susceptible to false accusations. Additionally, while his behavior may be considered distasteful, it is not a criminal offense. Recently, a letter was published in Le Figaro and signed by numerous notable figures in the French film and music industries, such as Charlotte Rampling, Roberto Alagna, and Carla Bruni. This letter offers support to Depardieu, who has become a victim of unwarranted hatred and unfounded allegations. They refer to him as the last “monstre sacré” (a term coined by Jean Cocteau to describe Sarah Bernhardt) and state that attacking Depardieu is essentially an attack on art itself. They recognize his immense talent as an actor and the contribution he has made to the artistic landscape of France. Ultimately, they affirm that regardless of the outcome of his current situation, Depardieu’s impact on their country is undeniable. Some also point out that it takes little courage to criticize a 75-year-old, 20-stone Depardieu who is often seen using a wheelchair.
Viewed from another country, using the concept of genius to defend a man accused of sexual violence may seem quintessentially French. And it is. In 1946, when Jean Genet, a poet and pornographer with a history of 13 theft convictions, faced potential life imprisonment for yet another offense, numerous French artists and intellectuals rallied to his side. Jacques Prévert, Jean Cocteau, Pablo Picasso, André Breton, and Jean-Paul Sartre, among others, signed a petition arguing that this literary genius deserved clemency. Genet ultimately received a pardon from the President. While Depardieu has not been found guilty of any crime, the invocation of genius in both cases stems from the belief that artistic talent, being inherently transcendent, elevates the artist.
Cocteau’s statement in his Journal 1942-1945 regarding Genet could accurately reflect the sentiments that many French individuals hold towards Depardieu. Cocteau hails Genet as a monumental figure, representing an unyielding and intense purity. His writing evokes feelings of anger, disgust, and awe, much like the brightness of a dim star.
Depardieu will forever be ingrained in the collective consciousness of France as a rough gem, rescued from a life of crime by the influence of the French language and the profound works of literature and theater. He will never be equaled as Cyrano de Bergerac or Georges Danton, two roles that served as reflections of his own life. As de Bergerac, he embodied the poet who believed himself unlovable due to his appearance, yet his cleverness and honesty earned him many enemies. And as Danton, he portrayed the scarred and daring revolutionary, the voice of the people who lived life to the fullest and met his end on the guillotine.
Certain pieces of art cannot be cancelled, at least in France.
Agnès Poirier is an author, analyst, and evaluator in the field of politics.
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Source: theguardian.com
