'Portrait of a Burning Woman' Adele Enel Announces Retirement
"Will Expose the Film Industry's Complacency on Sexual Crimes"
French renowned actress Ad?le Haenel, known for her roles in films such as Portrait of a Lady on Fire, suddenly announced her retirement, criticizing the French film industry's complacent attitude toward sexual crimes.
On the 9th (local time), the British daily The Guardian reported that Ad?le Haenel declared her retirement from the film industry through the French media outlet T?l?rama.
Ad?le Haenel debuted in 2002 with the film Les Diables and won the C?sar Award for Best Actress in 2015. She became well-known in Korea through films such as Unknown Girl, 120 BPM, and Portrait of a Lady on Fire.
Haenel stated, "I have decided to politically use my retirement from the film industry to expose the complacent attitude of those working in the film industry toward sexual offenders," announcing her departure from the industry.
She also said, "(My) retirement is a way to point out the film industry that ostracized women who reported violence."
Haenel mentioned that the French film industry responded indifferently to the Me Too allegations, citing actor G?rard Depardieu, CNC (Centre national du cin?ma et de l'image anim?e) president Dominique Boutonnat, and director Roman Polanski.
Depardieu was accused of sexual assault by 13 women but denied all charges. Boutonnat was brought to trial on charges of raping a 21-year-old woman but similarly denied the allegations. Polanski was convicted of raping a 13-year-old child but fled to France and Switzerland, where he currently resides.
Haenel said, "They would prefer us to disappear and die in silence," and added, "In my world, I will eliminate those in power."
Previously, in 2019, Haenel filed a lawsuit against director Christophe Ruggia, accusing him of repeatedly sexually harassing her in the past. She stated, "As a public figure, I believed it was responsible to actively participate in the judicial process, so I reported it," reigniting the Me Too movement in the French film industry.
In 2020, at the French C?sar Awards, when Roman Polanski won the Best Director award, Haenel stood up, shouted "Shame," and left the ceremony, drawing significant attention.
Following the news of Haenel's retirement, netizens expressed support with comments such as "I support Ad?le Haenel's fight," and "It's regrettable that such a talented actress is retiring, but I respect her."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
