I disagree with Perry de Havilland‘s attack on the boycott of the Cannes Film Festival for four reasons.
First, I’ve got nothing against voluntary boycotts as opposed to trade embargoes or tariffs imposed by government or international bureaucratic organisations. Provided no force is threatened against those who attend, opponents are entitled to stay away and ask others to do so.
Second, the Cannes Film Festival is an excellent target for a boycott to hurt the French establishment. It is a matter of pride that the Americans feel compelled to turn up. The one thing that really upsets the French cultural establishment is the idea that France is irrelevant. A boycott of Cannes is as good a way of making this point as any short of war.
Third, some French film critics criticises the Cannes Film Festival for its anti-commercial ideology. The hit “Amelie” in France released as “Le Fabuleux Destin d’Amelie Poulain” was ignored mpelled to turn up. The one thing that really upsets the French cultural establishment is the idea that France is irrelevant. A boycott of Cannes is as good a way of making this point as any short of war.
Third, some French film critics criticises the Cannes Film Festival for its anti-commercial ideology. The hit “Amelie” in France released as “Le Fabuleux Destin d’Amelie Poulain” was ignoredd, opponents are entitled to stay away and ask others to do so.
Second, the Cannes Film Festival is an excellent target for a boycott to hurt the French establishment. It is a matter of pride that the Americans feel compelled to turn up. The one thing that really upsets the French cultural establishment is the idea that France is irrelevant. A boycott of Cannes is as good a way
