The film's press conference MillThe film, directed by László Nemes and presented in competition at the Cannes Film Festival, sparked a tense exchange about French politics. According to the official festival description, the feature film recounts the arrest of Jean Moulin in June 1943 and his subsequent confrontation with Klaus Barbie, head of the Gestapo in Lyon.
"Do you think it is essential to fight the National Rally?"
During the press conference, a pro-LFI journalist from Words of Honor He interviewed the film crew, linking the memory of Jean Moulin to current French politics. He mentioned the upcoming presidential election and the National Rally, asking: “The presidential election will take place in France next year. The National Rally, founded by some of Klaus Barbie’s associates, traitors to their nation, has a chance of coming to power. Do you think it is essential today, in order not to betray the memory of Jean Moulin, to resolutely fight the National Rally? Do you also think that La France Insoumise, the majority party on the left, is today the best bulwark against the far right, its program also being inspired by the National Council of the Resistance?”
Gilles Lellouche cuts it short: "I don't have an answer to that."
Faced with this highly political question, Gilles Lellouche, who plays Jean Moulin in the film, chose not to engage in the debate. His response was brief: "Isn't your question a little leading? I don't have an answer to that, sir."
László Nemes refocuses the debate on the film
Director László Nemes then spoke to place the exchange within the context of the press conference. "We're really not here to comment on French politics."he explained, adding that the team had sought to "Paying tribute to Jean Moulin".
The episode illustrates how a historical film, dedicated to a major figure of the Resistance, can become the starting point for a contemporary political debate. The team of Mill He therefore clearly refused to turn the presentation of the film into a partisan platform, preferring to stick to the central subject: the memory of Jean Moulin and the story of his last battles.
