Pain and glory in Cannes: the accusation against Johnny Depp and the Palme d’Or for Michael Douglas

La Croisette is the world stage of cinema. Cannes rehabilitates Johnny Deppwho will go through the festival and will do so to promote and defend his work as Louis XV, in the film Jeanne du Barry. This visit by Depp has turned the media scene upside down prior to the inauguration due to the shadow of the accusations of mistreatment that hang over his person according to the story of his ex-wife Amber Heard. And that the actor was the winner of that endless judicial process. Also, the veteran Michael DouglasThe 78-year-old will receive the prestigious Honorary Palme d’Or in recognition of his “brilliant” film career. It will be this Tuesday, May 16, at the opening ceremony of the 76th edition, which will be held until May 27.

With this dark past of Depp, one of the great stars invited to Cannes, the director of the festival, Thierry Fremaux, had to reflect before the media on “if the contest has really become a space to celebrate rapists”. This question started from the recent words of the actress Adele Haenelprotagonist of Portrait of a woman on firewho announced via statement that he was withdrawing from acting for political reasons. “The Cannes Film Festival seems willing to do anything to defend rapists”was his argument. In this group, it was understood that they were Polanski y Depardieu. Was he also referring to Depp? Fremaux then said that in his life he only has “one rule”, which is “freedom of thought and freedom of expression.”

And the Palm of Honor for Douglas

Controversies behind, on the other side of the coin is the protagonist of basic instinct. “It’s always a breath of fresh air to be in Cannes. Since my first time here in 1979 for the china syndrome until Behind the candlestickin 2013, the festival has always reminded me that the magic of cinema is not only in what we see on the screen, but in its ability to impact the people around us,” said Michael Douglas. “After more than 50 years in business, it’s an honor to return to the Croisette to open the festival and embrace our shared global film language,” the actor said upon receiving the award.

Douglas has worked with directors like Robert Zemeckis on behind the green heart (1984), with Ridley Scott in Black Rain; or Barry Levinson in Harassment (1994). One of the blockbusters of his career was Basic Instinct, with Sharon Stone, an erotic thriller that broke the box office in 1992; also, the groundbreaking and dystopian The Game; y Fatal Attractioncon Glenn Close.

In 1987, Michael Douglas won the Best Actor Oscar for his portrayal of Gordon Gekko in Wall Street (top photo). In addition to his contribution to cinema, the Cannes Festival jury has highlighted her participation in multiple social causes. For example, they cite his role as United Nations Messenger of Peace, where he has been committed to nuclear disarmament worldwide since 1998 and has also been an advocate for arms control in the United States.

Other film personalities who also have the Palm are Forest Whitaker, Agnès Varda, Jodie Foster or Manoel de Oliveira.