Cited as a witness by the actor’s lawyer, the actress spoke for about fifteen minutes on Wednesday before going to kiss the defendant, visibly moved.
She approaches a decided, straight step, with a worthy air in a long black dress at the Claudine pass. Fanny Ardant was cited by Gérard Depardieu and his advice to deposit at the bar. The president questions him: “You have turned on” green shutters “, so you may have seen or heard something in connection with the facts?”
“I will broaden the debate”begins the lifelong friend of Depardieu, “I know we are here to seek the truth. The truth is the most difficult thing to define. ” Fanny Ardant resumes: “I will broaden the debate by saying why Gérard is such a big actor. Any form of genius has something extravagant, rebellious, dangerous, embodied. He is and the monster, and the saint. And Gérard interpreted all these characters by giving everything of himself. With the worst, and the best. He is known from Cuba to Vladivostok. Because all the public around the world has been able to recognize himself in the characters he plays. Everyone was able to identify with the roles that Gérard played ”. On the bench of civil parties, someone blows: “It’s unbearable”. Another humming in a low voice.
“Gérard speaks in the same way to Fidel Castro as an electrician”
“Gérard speaks in the same way to Fidel Castro as an electrician. He laughs, he takes up space on a shoot. Yes, Gérard has a big mouth. Yes, Gérard says rudeness. He has always given everything ”she blows, taking an air tired.
“I know that the company has changed, that the benchmarks are no longer the same”continues the actress, “There are things that were tolerated and that are no longer tolerable. I know that many did not dare to defend Gérard because they were afraid, afraid of losing their job, fear of no longer being able to be an actor, or, as a director, no longer being able to make films. But fear should not be a way of obeying citizens ”insists Fanny Ardant. Before concluding: “If I did not come to defend my friend, I would be all my life of my cowardice. I only believe in hand, only forgiveness, only friendship and love ”.
“We are not here to make morality”
The president thanks the actress for bringing these elements, but specifies that: “We are not here to make morality, we are here to do the right”. He then questions him about the facts: did she hear from sexual assault on the set? “I have heard. But I never attended anything. I am a woman myself. I experienced things like that, I swung slaps, I said insults. But I didn’t attend that. If I am asked if I have witnessed the facts and I did not make a gesture to help this young girl, I answer that I was not there ”replies the actress.
Neither the lawyers of the civil party nor that of the defense ask questions. “Thank you Madam You can stay in the room”said the president. Fanny Ardant turns around. Gérard Depardieu fixes her, the look full of recognition, visibly moved, nothing else seems to exist. He gets up, seems to hesitate, ultimately keeps his knees folded, in expectation. Fanny Ardant approaches, grabs his face in his hands. And kiss her.