French paper Le Parisien is reporting on several accusations being held against filmmaker Catherine Corsini and the production of her latest film "Le Retour.”
Briefly, the report states that the film had been selected for Cannes competition, but its invitation was rescinded at the last minute (apparently right before the scheduled press conference).
Currently, the Cannes selection committee is investigating several issues related to the film. It seems as though the other female director who could be added to the selection, and that Frémaux has been teasing in interviews, was in fact Corsini.
Here are the issues plaguing Corsini …
Members of her crew have complained that she harassed them. An investigation has apparently been opened by the District Attorney.
Secondly, the film, which is said to revolve around several teenagers characters, hired a 15 year old actress to play a girl who discovers her sexuality and, in one scene, masturbates. This scene was not in the script, but was shot anyway.
Apparently, if a filmmaker wants to shoot such a risqué scene in a French film, it has to be approved by France’s film commission in pre-production. The film’s producer is now stating that it was an "administrative error.”
The penalty for such a violation would be the stripping of financial aid that was given to the production via the French cinema commission — rumored to be close to 680,000 Euros.
I wouldn't be surprised if the Cannes selection committee decides to drop this film for good this weekend.
Right now, the main films in contention from France, for that elusive fourth French spot in competition, are Bruno Dumont’s “L’Empire” and Valerie Donzelli’s “L'Amour et les Forêts”