Binoche suggests Depardieu downed by #MeToo

Cannes Jury, from left: Carlos Reygadas, Payal Kapadia, Leila Slimani, Halle Berry, Jeremy Strong, Juliette Binoche, Dieudo Hamadi, Alba Rohrwacher, Hong Sangsoo Photo: Courtesy of Cannes Film Festival/Sameer Al-Doumy/AFP

This year’s reigning queen of the Croisette Juliette Binoche, president of the Competition jury in succession to last year’s Barbie director Greta Gerwig, was asked at today’s jury press conference if the #MeToo movement had led to the downfall of Gérard Depardieu, who earlier today was found guilty of sexual assault charges and given an 18-month suspended prison sentence.

The firm and unequivocal response from Binoche was: “Of course, yes, absolutely." She added that the festival had reflected the changes of attitude in society at large. "For a number of years, indeed the festival is following this trend in social and political life. There have been great changes occurring in the world. Sometimes it follows the trends, sometimes it spearheads it. I think the festival is increasingly in step with what’s happening today – the #MeToo wave took some time to gain strength.”

Halle Berry: 'I don’t know if James Bond should be a woman' Photo: Courtesy of Cannes Film Festival/Randy Holmes ABC

With the announcement by the festival of a stricter dress code and bans on nudity and “voluminous outfits” fellow juror Halle Berry revealed that she had an amazing dress she couldn't wear for tonight’s opening “because it has too big a train.” “I’m not going to break the rules,” she added. “And the nudity part is probably a good thing.”

Berry was also quizzed on whether she would ever return to the James Bond universe - or even take on the role of the first female Bond. “I don’t know if 007 should be a woman,” she responded.

How did Binoche feel about returning to the festival as jury president 40 years after she had first appeared on the Croisette? "I'm looking forward to sharing these life experiences with the members of the Jury and the public. In 1985, I walked up the fabled red carpet steps for the first time with the enthusiasm and uncertainty of a young actress; I never imagined I'd return 40 years later in the honorary role of president of the Jury. I appreciate the privilege, the responsibility and the absolute need for humility. ”

She has often been quoted as saying “I was born at the Festival de Cannes” when she appeared in her fist major role in André Techiné’s Rendez-vous when it had its premiere.

Binoche emphasises that she loves to be “in the present.” She adds: “That is why acting is such a perfect form. You have to concentrate so intensely in front of the camera which can feel like you are flying. It gives me a real high.”

Juliette Binoche on Depardieu whom she met as a schoolgirl: 'I told him I wanted to be an actress and he gave me some good advice' Photo Photo: Courtesy of Cannes Film Festival/Valery Hache/AFP

She had worked with Depardieu on Claire Denis’ Let The Sunshine In 2017. Depardieu only made a brief appearance at the end of the film – trying to sort out her character’s anxieties. There were rumours of rift between them at the time. When her film Certified Copy by Abbas Kiarostami was being released, Depardieu made an unprovoked attack on her acting abilities by saying that: “She has nothing – absolutely nothing. Compared with her, Isabelle Adjani is great even if she’s lost it recently. Or Fanny Ardant – she is magnificent, extremely impressive. But Binoche? What has she ever had going for her?”

Binoche, wounded at the time, found the attack inexplicable. They managed to make up three months later. In a previous interview she explained: “I saw him by chance in my local market. I went up to him and took him in my arms and said: ‘Why are you so mean to me. What have I done to you?’ and he replied “I am always doing some stupid things – don’t believe them.’ “

The first time she met Depardieu was on the set of the film he was making of Danton. “I was still at high school and a friend of my father’s had invited me to come and see the film. I was very excited. Gérard came up to me and was nice and friendly and open. I told him I wanted to be an actress and he gave me some good advice: to work on the classics. He was very generous so the outburst was all the more shocking. But it’s all over now.”