Dedicated to the memory of Bernard Pivot, writer and television presenter who died on Monday May 6 at the age of 89, the Molières ceremony honored Francis Huster on Monday evening and notably rewarded the plays The Circle of Missing Poets, as well as 4,211 km by Aïla Navidi, which evokes the exile of an Iranian family. But this 35th edition was also marked by several political and societal positions.
First of all against the budget cuts which affect the world of culture. “Thank you to everyone except Madam Minister! », Launched the mistress of ceremonies, the comedian Caroline Vigneaux, under the eyes of Rachida Dati present in the Folies Bergère room. “You get us back the 204 million euros [less on the culture budget], you don’t touch the intermittency. And we'll release you in time for Paris City Hall! “, she quipped. An actor from the CGT spectacle also warned against “bankrupt theater companies (…), tens of thousands of jobs (…) threatened”. “It’s a massive layoff plan that doesn’t speak its name.”
The Minister of Culture, Rachida Dati, did not speak, but posted a video at the start of the evening in which she assured that “the intermittent regime (…) must be preserved”. She also advocated for more “collaborations” between public and private theater. The conclusions of a report on the subject are expected this summer.
Honorary Molière for Francis Huster
These Molières were also an opportunity for live performance to support the fight against sexist and sexual violence, via the broadcast of a giant trombinoscope on which we could read “You are not alone”. Coincidentally, this Monday was the day on which the indictment of playwright and writer Pierre Notte, named several times at this ceremony in the past, was revealed for the rape of one of his former high school theater students in 2004 in 2005, which he refuted by arguing for a real “love story” with the teenager.
Receiving an honorary Molière, Francis Huster, 76, praised “the real heroines” of Molière’s plays, his female characters, in a tirade which earned him a standing ovation. And to quote “Agnès, Elvire, Armande, Célimène, Toinette, Nicole, Dorine” who dared “to denounce and triumph over these cowards, Tartuffe rapist, hypocrite Orgon, Arpagon avaricious pervert, Jourdain obsessed with money and sex, Arnolphe predator pedophile, deranged Argan and even Dom Juan, a remorseless killer”.
Comedian Sophia Aram, who received the Molière for Humor, spoke about the conflict in the Middle East between Israel and Hamas. “If we are all here calling for a ceasefire, how can we be in solidarity with the thousands of civilian deaths in Gaza without also being in solidarity with the Israeli victims? “, she said.
Call to release Iranian rapper Toomaj Salehi
As for the awards, the play 4211 km by Aïla Navidi, which recounts the exile of an Iranian family and their fight for freedom, was recognized twice: best private theater show and Molière for female revelation . The opportunity for director and actress Olivia Pavlou Graham to call for the release of Iranian rapper Toomaj Salehi sentenced to death in his country.
Nominated six times, the play The Circle of Dead Poets, inspired by the American film by Peter Weir (1989) with Robin Williams as a non-conformist professor, received two awards: best director and male revelation for Ethan Oliel.
Vincent Dedienne received the Molière for best actor in a private theater performance for A Straw Hat from Italy. On the public theater side, it was Micha Lescot (Richard II), who won the prize.
The Molière for actress in a private theater performance was awarded to Cristiana Reali for A Streetcar Named Desire. The Molière of the actress in a public theater performance went to Vanessa Cailhol for Courgette which was nominated seven times.
