Disgraced filmmaker Roman Polanski wins best director at 'French Oscars'
Filmmaker Roman Polanski, who fled United States in 1978 while awaiting sentencing for unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor, won big at 45th Cesar Awards, the highest movie honor in France. But the win attracted backlash from several corners, with many actresses staging walkout from the ceremony. Polanski pled guilty to the offense in 1977 and has since been a fugitive.
Polanski's movie won 3 awards out of 12 nominations
Polanski was named the best director on Friday night for his movie J'accuse [English title: An Officer and a Spy]. The film, based on the Dreyfus affair of 19th century, also won awards for the best adapted screenplay and best costume design. The awards, regarded as France's equivalent to the Oscars, have been mired in controversy, since Polanski's movie received 12 nominations in January.
However, Polanski stayed away from the awards ceremony
However, Polanski and other crew members of the movie were not present at the ceremony to receive the awards. Ahead of the awards' night, the 86-year-old filmmaker pulled out of the event, saying that he feared he would be "lynched" by feminist actors and activists.
Following Polanski's win, several actors staged walkout
Following Polanski's best director win, actor Adele Haenel was one of those who left the hall. She was followed by Celine Sciamma, the director of Portrait of a Lady on Fire. Notably, Haenel has admittedly suffered from sexual abuse from within the country's film industry. "It means raping women isn't that bad," Haenel had earlier said about Polanski's nominations.
Meanwhile, protests were held outside the award venue
Meanwhile, protests were carried out against Polanski outside the Paris concert hall, where the awards were held. The French police also fired tear gas at the protesters, according to local news reports. Many demonstrators waved placards that read, "Shame on an industry that protects rapists".
Last year, Polanski was voted out of the Academy
Not long ago, the organizers of the 76th Venice International Film Festival also drew similar flak for including Polanski's movie in the coveted program. In fact, his work went on to grab the festival's Silver Lion Grand Jury in September last year. However, the French-Polish director was last year expelled from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which bestows the Oscars.
Polanski recently faced another rape accusation
After being convicted of drugging and raping a 13-year-old girl in 1977, Polanski fled to France. He is still considered a fugitive by the United States judiciary. Further, Polanski has since faced other accusations of sexual abuse. In November last year, French photographer and former actor Valentine Monnier accused Polanski of raping her in 1975 when she was 18. However, he denied the allegations.
