A French actor undressed on stage during a small César Awards ceremony in Paris to protest the government’s closure of theaters and cinemas during the coronavirus pandemic.
Corinne Masiero had “no culture, no future” written on her chest and “give us art back on Jean” on the back, in a message to Prime Minister Jean Castex.
Masiero, 57, was on stage to present the award for best costume and wore a donkey outfit and a blood-stained dress before undressing in front of the audience.
France’s response to the Oscars, the ceremony is normally the biggest night in the French film calendar, but on Friday there were no light bulbs on the red carpet and no partners on the arms of the nominees.
The ceremony took place at a theater as anger and frustration increased among actors, musicians and artists, due to the government’s refusal to set a date for the reopening of museums, galleries, concert halls and films.
Marina Foïs, one of the most famous comedians in France, watched the government close theaters and cinemas in a fierce speech to open the ceremony.
Foïs, who hosted the night, criticized Culture Minister Roselyne Bachelot for finding time to write a book during the Covid-19 crisis and saying, “I’m losing confidence in you.”
She also criticized the French government’s broader strategy to fight the virus, as cases in the country exceeded 4 million.
“Our young people grew up, closed our cinemas and theaters and banned concerts so that they could open churches, because we are a secular country, so that the elderly can go to church,” she said. Most French people are Roman Catholics.
Across the capital, dozens of protesters occupied the Odeon Theater for the eighth night, demanding the reopening of cultural venues and more financial support.