International

Stars ignore boycott call

By Gautaman Bhaskaran

CANNES MAY 16. Religious animosity has crept into Cannes this year where the International Film Festival is now into its second day.

The American Jewish Congress ran extensive advertisements in cinema trade magazines urging people not to travel to France, and to boycott Cannes.

The Congress compared the France of 2002 with that of 1942, when the anti-Semitic Vichy Government was in power.

The Congress cited as examples the recent attacks on Jewish synagogues, schools and people.

However, these statements appear to have been brushed aside by the celebrities now here in the French Riviera. Woody Allen, whose delightful comedy, "Hollywood Ending'', heralded the festival, told a press conference that "the French should be proud of how they responded in the last election against the right wing". He went on to stress that "I have never felt that the French are anti-Semitic in any way".

On the contrary, they are a great artistic race, who have had a long history of discovering American artists — in literature, in cinema, in jazz, Mr. Allen added.

Sharon Stone, a member of the international jury, voiced similar sentiments.

"The fellow who did not win in the French elections (Jean-Marie Le Pen) was pretty vocal in his anti-Semitism.

The fellow who did win (Jacques Chirac) won with 82 per cent, which is what we call a landslide. That means a pretty healthy percentage of the population is a pretty loving example. That is the place I want to be, not boycott," she said at another press conference.

Cannes must have heaved a sigh of relief: both Mr. Allen and Ms. Stone are the city's favourites.

Although, this is the first time that Mr. Allen is here (though many of his earlier works were premiered here), Ms. Stone is a regular visitor.

But Cannes' share of bad publicity appears to be increasing. The Wall Street Journal published a story recently titled "Tales of robbery on the Riviera".

"In Cannes, the problem of crime often intensifies during the bustle of the film festival," the paper wrote.

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