Controversies sparked during the Cannes Film Festival often outshine the films themselves. Take Woody Allen’s 2016 film “Café Society,” which starred Blake Lively. Few can remember how that film played, but many will likely recall the uproar caused by a joke made at Allen’s expense when he introduced the film (“It’s very nice that you’ve been shooting so many movies in Europe,” quipped comedian MC Laurent Lafitte. “Even if you are not being convicted for rape in the US.”)
The daily press conferences at these international festivals typically generate the most viral sound bites, with certain reporters trying to goad talent into discussing hot-button topics. At the Berlin Film Festival in February it seemed like everyone was being asked about the conflict in Gaza. “I have no context for that question,” said Ethan Hawke when asked how he feels about Palestinian voices, “being silenced as there is an ongoing genocide.” (Both Hawke and the reporter predictably drew backlash on social media.)
Tuesday’s Cannes jury press conference was no different as reporters (mostly European) lobbed politically loaded questions against the backdrop of a frayed geopolitical order, from Ukraine to Gaza to Iran.
For about 30 minutes, none of the jurors took the bait until things started to wrap up. That’s when Irish-Scottish screenwriter and jury member Paul Laverty grabbed the mic: “Can I just say one tiny little thing? Isn’t it fascinating to see some of them like Susan Sarandon, Javier Bardem, Mark Ruffalo blacklisted because of their views in opposing the murder of women and children in Gaza? Shame on Hollywood people who do that. My respect and total solidarity to them.”
It was odd timing as Laverty had already fielded multiple questions — including ones about a climate of censorship in Hollywood. He didn’t invoke Gaza until the audience had started to pack up and head for the exits. This made some wonder whether Laverty was hoping another juror would invoke the Middle East conflict and jumped in when there were no takers.
