Sexist trash! Hundreds storm out of graphic Cannes premiere
HUNDREDS of cinemagoers stormed out of a Cannes premiere made by a director accused of sexual assault, branding the film ‘sexist trash’.
The film, running at over three hours long, showed young actresses gyrating in a nightclub – as well as a graphic 13minute scene depicting a sex act.
Mektoub, My Love: Intermezzo was deemed ‘unwatchable torture’ by critics, many of whom left the showing and shouted for the screening to stop.
French director Abdellatif Kechiche – under investigation for an alleged sexual assault on an actress – also ran out of his own gala red-carpet premiere after his young leading actress, Ophelie Bau, walked out before the end credits.
Kechiche picked up a microphone as the film finished on Thursday night and said: ‘I apologise for having kept you (in this nightclub) and now I’m off.’
He then laughed and sprinted away from his actors and up the aisle toward the exit. Cannes has come under fire for choosing to nominate the new film for its top award, the Palme d’Or. Kechiche previously won it for 2013’s Blue is the Warmest Colour.
A critic for IndieWire said that his latest movie caused him to have a ‘mild psychotic breakdown’. Meanwhile, American website Variety said that given the allegation against Kechiche – which he has denied – this ‘ bloated, petty provocation’ may never be released.