The ceremony announcing the winners of this year’s Cesar Awards, the French equivalent of the Oscars, included a loud cry for culture in the coronavirus era, with an actor undressing on stage to make a statement about the continued closure of cinemas and theaters.
Corinne Masiero came on stage on Friday night to present the award for best costume, wearing a donkey costume and tampons as earrings.
“Is it too rubbish?” Masiero asked the socially distant audience before taking off his donkey suit to reveal what looked like a blood-soaked dress and to announce “I have the last one.”
Masiero, 57, the unusual star of the popular detective series “Captain Marleaus”, then took off her dress and displayed the messages written on her body. The words in front of her read, “No culture, no future.” The message on her back was addressed to French Prime Minister Jean Castex: “Give us back the art, Jean.”
The audience applauded, but some commentators on social networks denounced what they said was a descendant in vulgarity at 46 Cesar Awards.
The #MeToo movement sparked last year’s ceremony, where the famous director Roman Polanski received the award for best director for “An Officer and a Spy” amid protests by women’s groups and boos and walks.
Polanski, who did not attend the event, is wanted in the United States decades after he was accused of raping a 13-year-old girl in 1977. He pleaded guilty to illegal sex with a minor but fled the United States in 2019. a woman accused Polanski of raping her in 1975 in her Swiss cottage when she was 18 years old. Polanski denied the allegations.
Most of the political views expressed this year were aimed at reviving France’s latent cultural scene. Part-time actors currently occupy several theaters in France, including the famous Odeon Theater in Paris, to demand more government assistance.
As for the awards themselves, one film, “Bye Bye Morons”, the crazy adventure of a dying hairdresser looking for the child he gave up at the age of 15, won seven awards, including best film and best director. for Albert Dupontel. The award for best actor went to Sami Bouajila for “Son”, and Laure Calamy was chosen best actress for her performance in “My Donkey, My Boyfriend and Me”.
Jean-Pascal Zadi, who was named the most promising actor for his role in “Tout simplic noir” (“Simply black”), promoted equality in his speech of thanks. Fathia Youssouff, fourteen, the most promising actress for “Mignonnes” (“Cuties”), told the young aspirants to follow their dreams.