French Actress Corinne Masiero stripped completely naked during the Cesar Film Awards Ceremony at L’Olympia in Paris on the 12 March in protest against the French Government closing cinemas and theatres amidst the Coronavirus pandemic.
57-year-old Masiero, best known for her lead role in Louise Wimmer, appeared on stage wearing a donkey costume, a blood-stained dress, and tampons for earrings. “Is this too trash?” she asked the socially distanced audience before confessing “I have a last one.” She was presenting the award for Best Costume Design before she proceeded to take her clothes off and stand completely bare for all to see.
In doing so, she revealed the markings she’d made on her body in order to pursue and make her statement. “No culture, no future” was written across her chest, while she directly addressed French Prime Minister, Jean Castex, on her back with the words that can be translated as “Give us art back Jean,” or in an alternative phonetic reading: “Give us our money back.”
This ceremony, known as the French equivalence to the Oscars, was a lot more stripped back this year due to the pandemic. Over the course of its continuation, the culture industry has taken a huge hit globally with theatres, museums, galleries, cinemas, and concert halls having to shut their doors around the world. After the #MeToo movement dominating last year’s ceremony, most of the political views expressed this year revolved around bringing the French cultural scene back to life. In France, cinemas have been shut for more than three months and there is currently no set date for the reopening of these venues, leaving actors, musicians, and other artists angry and out of work.
As their frustration builds, the months of closure continue.
Masiero took the opportunity to stand up as a collective voice for those in the culture industry who have been unable to work due to the virus and the government’s lack of response. She appealed directly to Castex in the hope of being heard, initiating change, and reopening doors. The actor’s courageous actions have sparked shock, conversation, and a global eruption across social media, with many turning to the likes of Twitter to express their respect and support using words such as “Bravo”, “I love you”, and “Respect.”
It was clear that frustration was building even prior to the event, as ScreenDaily reported how more than 800 key figures from the French cinema posted an open letter to President Emmanuel Macron calling for the country’s cinemas to reopen. In the letter, their ongoing closure is addressed, arguing that these measures no longer make sense when scientific committees have stated cinemas and theatres do not pose a risk to infection.
Masiero was also not the only actor at the Cesar Awards to speak out against closures. Comedian host, Marina Fois, addressed the subject matter in her speech: “They cooped up our youngsters, closed our cinemas and theatres, and banned concerts so that they could open churches, because we’re a secular country, so that old people could go to church. The majority of French people are Roman Catholic.”
Stephane Demoustier added, “my children can go to Zara but not the cinema… it’s incomprehensible.”
Throughout the ceremony, Culture Minister, Roselyne Bachelot, was the focus for a number of jokes made. Fois made reference to the Minister having time to write a book, adding “I’m losing confidence in you” as she held up a plastic bag of dog faeces.
Since the actress stepped out in demand for the government to do more to support culture during this time, Castex has not announced any more clarity around reopening or upcoming dates, only that he hopes they’ll be up and running by the end of April.
The response seems to have inspired others to come forward and act in agreement. Across Paris on the same night, several dozen protestors occupied the Odeon Theatre for an eighth night.
There has clearly been an eruption in shared admiration of Masiero’s bravery, and although Covid-19 restrictions mean reopening cannot happen just yet, she certainly sparked conversation and enhanced recognition around culture. The demand for cultural venues to reopen and receive financial support only continues to persist. They are certainly not backing down.
Danielle Saunders
Featured image courtesy of Karina Lago via Unsplash. This image has in no way been altered. Image license can be found here.