First day and first confrontation: his reappearance Johnny Deppwho will hit the red carpet tonight, at his presentation Cannes Film Festivalprovoked a sharp reaction from feminists and artists calling for the “rehabilitation” of the scandalous star.

Banished from American film sets after his ex-wife Amber Heard was convicted of domestic violence, the 59-year-old actor is now making a triumphant return as Jeanne DuBarry Maiven.

Depp has not been convicted and denies the rape. He will walk up the steps of the Festival before the opening ceremony hosted by Chiara Mastroianni, during which the honorary Palme d’Or will be presented to American actor Michael Douglas.

When asked why this film was chosen on the first day of the Festival, its artistic director, Thierry Fremaux, said that he was interested in Depp “as an actor”, that no one forbade him to make films, and that his dedication to cinema was “amazing”. “I have only one guide in my life, the freedom to think, speak, act within the law,” he replied.

Fremo assured that he did not watch the “judicial drama” between Depp and his ex-wife, who accused each other of domestic violence and slander. In the end, Depp won a libel case in the US (but not in the UK), but Heard was forced to endure a barrage of misogynistic attacks.

“Sense of impunity”

Asked by AFP why she teamed up with Depp, French actress and director Mayowen explained that the shoot took place last summer, as the second lawsuit was coming to an end. “I had quite a lot of anxiety, wondering what would happen to his image,” he said.

“How to understand the decision (…) of the Festival to choose this particular film for its first day? We are frozen by the sense of impunity that comes from this,” complained several bands, including 50/50, Lab Femmes de cinema and 1000 Visages.

Male and female actors, including Julie Gayet and Laura Calami, also spoke out and in an article in the Liberation newspaper denounced the Cannes Film Festival as “rolling out a red carpet for rapist men and women” – a reference to Johnny Depp, but also to Maiven, who recently allegedly attacked Mediapart founder Edui Plenell in a restaurant.

“The festival sends a message that (…) violence is acceptable in creative spaces,” they added in this text, also signed by Swann Arlo, star of the film “Anatomy d’une chute”, which enters the competition. Festival section.

Source: APE-MPE, AFP.