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Off-screen antics add to allure of Cannes spectacle Cannes: Off-screen incidents leave their mark on festival
(about 3 hours later)
As this year's Cannes festival ends, one inescapable conclusion is that the real action has taken place not inside the cinema but just outside its doors. A string of incidents has led to a prison sentence, calls for a crackdown on festival "pranks" and a theological row over a kiss.As this year's Cannes festival ends, one inescapable conclusion is that the real action has taken place not inside the cinema but just outside its doors. A string of incidents has led to a prison sentence, calls for a crackdown on festival "pranks" and a theological row over a kiss.
When critics speak of criminally bad acting, they rarely intend for the performer to actually be incarcerated. Yet that's what happened at the festival last week, when a street performer was arrested by riot police when he continued with an impromptu act after being asked to stop.When critics speak of criminally bad acting, they rarely intend for the performer to actually be incarcerated. Yet that's what happened at the festival last week, when a street performer was arrested by riot police when he continued with an impromptu act after being asked to stop.
A shoe-seller from Cap Vert, Jason Monteiro Furtado, 21, was on holiday in the town and began what has been described as a lighthearted turn, delivered from just behind the removable security barriers that line the main drag in Cannes. These waist-high metal fences are manned by riot police and seek to separate the public from delegates and stars. He was escorted off the Croisette and on Friday sentenced to six months in jail followed by deportation.A shoe-seller from Cap Vert, Jason Monteiro Furtado, 21, was on holiday in the town and began what has been described as a lighthearted turn, delivered from just behind the removable security barriers that line the main drag in Cannes. These waist-high metal fences are manned by riot police and seek to separate the public from delegates and stars. He was escorted off the Croisette and on Friday sentenced to six months in jail followed by deportation.
"Pranksters" have so far avoided such draconian sanctions, though perhaps not for much longer. Last weekend, a Ukrainian TV presenter famed for stunts to embarrass celebrities jumped the barrier and crawled under the skirts of America Ferrera, the 20-year-old who lends her voice to DreamWorks' family animation How to Train Your Dragon 2. The man, Vitalii Sediuk was quickly led away but Ferrera was shaken by the experience and many online called for the manoeuvre to be reclassified as sexual assault."Pranksters" have so far avoided such draconian sanctions, though perhaps not for much longer. Last weekend, a Ukrainian TV presenter famed for stunts to embarrass celebrities jumped the barrier and crawled under the skirts of America Ferrera, the 20-year-old who lends her voice to DreamWorks' family animation How to Train Your Dragon 2. The man, Vitalii Sediuk was quickly led away but Ferrera was shaken by the experience and many online called for the manoeuvre to be reclassified as sexual assault.
After crashing the stage during a speech by Adele at last year's Grammys, Sediuk was charged with entering a performance area and interfering with performance, but escaped a jail term. He was not detained following his exploits at Cannes, though the chances of his festival pass being renewed seem slim.After crashing the stage during a speech by Adele at last year's Grammys, Sediuk was charged with entering a performance area and interfering with performance, but escaped a jail term. He was not detained following his exploits at Cannes, though the chances of his festival pass being renewed seem slim.
Even the most apparently innocuous festival behaviour has led to grave fallout. On the opening night, festival president Gilles Jacob, 83, offered a quick peck on the cheek to jury member Leila Hatami, who starred in the 2012 foreign language Oscar-winner A Separation.Even the most apparently innocuous festival behaviour has led to grave fallout. On the opening night, festival president Gilles Jacob, 83, offered a quick peck on the cheek to jury member Leila Hatami, who starred in the 2012 foreign language Oscar-winner A Separation.
Such action was denounced by Hizbollah Students, a group of university pupils with links to Iran's Revolutionary Guard, who called for her prosecution for the "sinful act of kissing a strange man in public". "Furthermore," they wrote, "the action of this film star has hurt the religious sentiments of the proud and martyrs breeding nation of Iran and as such we also demand the punishment of flogging for her as stipulated in the law."Such action was denounced by Hizbollah Students, a group of university pupils with links to Iran's Revolutionary Guard, who called for her prosecution for the "sinful act of kissing a strange man in public". "Furthermore," they wrote, "the action of this film star has hurt the religious sentiments of the proud and martyrs breeding nation of Iran and as such we also demand the punishment of flogging for her as stipulated in the law."
Jacob, who retires at the end of this festival, played down the incident, explaining such behaviour as French custom, but on Friday Hatami sent an apologetic letter to Iran's cinema organisation. Jacob, she said, had had the intentions of "old grandfather who was also my host", but had forgotten the sharia rules which dictate her behaviour – "which comes with old age".Jacob, who retires at the end of this festival, played down the incident, explaining such behaviour as French custom, but on Friday Hatami sent an apologetic letter to Iran's cinema organisation. Jacob, she said, had had the intentions of "old grandfather who was also my host", but had forgotten the sharia rules which dictate her behaviour – "which comes with old age".
"My pre-emptive action of hand shaking was fruitless," she wrote. "Although I am embarrassed to give these explanations, I had no choice but to go into details for those who could not understand the inevitable situation that I was stuck in.""My pre-emptive action of hand shaking was fruitless," she wrote. "Although I am embarrassed to give these explanations, I had no choice but to go into details for those who could not understand the inevitable situation that I was stuck in."
This year's awards were being distributed on Saturday evening, a day earlier than usual because of strikes in France.This year's awards were being distributed on Saturday evening, a day earlier than usual because of strikes in France.
Her letter became public as the jury of which she is a part deliberated over this year's awards, which are distributed on Saturday evening (a day earlier than usual on account of French strikes on Monday, when many festival-goers would traditionally depart). The frontrunner is still Nuri Bilge Ceylan's Winter Sleep, a three-and-a-half Turkish drama about an actor grappling with marital breakdown in the mountains. But there is strong competition from Leviathan, a Russian epic inspired by the Book of Job and full of barbed digs at the Moscow administration, and from Mike Leigh's artist biopic Mr Turner, starring Timothy Spall.Her letter became public as the jury of which she is a part deliberated over this year's awards, which are distributed on Saturday evening (a day earlier than usual on account of French strikes on Monday, when many festival-goers would traditionally depart). The frontrunner is still Nuri Bilge Ceylan's Winter Sleep, a three-and-a-half Turkish drama about an actor grappling with marital breakdown in the mountains. But there is strong competition from Leviathan, a Russian epic inspired by the Book of Job and full of barbed digs at the Moscow administration, and from Mike Leigh's artist biopic Mr Turner, starring Timothy Spall.
The left-field contender is Timbuktu, Abderrahame Sissako's story set in the west-African state of Mali, which has been taken over by strict Islamic jihadists. One scene shows a couple buried to death in the sand for a relationship; another has a woman sentenced to 40 lashes for listening to music, and another 40 for being alone in a room with a man (the musician, who has been strumming very quietly on a guitar).The left-field contender is Timbuktu, Abderrahame Sissako's story set in the west-African state of Mali, which has been taken over by strict Islamic jihadists. One scene shows a couple buried to death in the sand for a relationship; another has a woman sentenced to 40 lashes for listening to music, and another 40 for being alone in a room with a man (the musician, who has been strumming very quietly on a guitar).
Whether Hatami's troubles will help or hinder Timbuktu's chances remains to be seen. But at a festival which seeks at every turn to reiterate its belief that art is paramount, this year it is the events outside the cinema which have threatened to steal the spotlight.Whether Hatami's troubles will help or hinder Timbuktu's chances remains to be seen. But at a festival which seeks at every turn to reiterate its belief that art is paramount, this year it is the events outside the cinema which have threatened to steal the spotlight.