Latest update: 18/05/2008 

- Cannes Film Festival - cinema - culture


Prophet cartoons inspire French documentary
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In his latest documentary, former journalist Daniel Leconte looks back at the trial and the media hype surrounding the publication of the Prophet Mohammed caricatures. FRANCE 24’s Elizabeth Tchoungui met him at Cannes.
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The controversy surrounding the publication of the contentious caricatures of the Prophet Mohammed is at the heart of Daniel Leconte’s documentary, “C'est dur d'être aimé par des cons” (“It’s Hard to Be Loved by Idiots”).

 

First published by Danish daily Jyllands-Posten, the cartoons were later republished by French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo – sparking outrage among French Muslims and prompting a fierce debate that was finally settled in court.

 

A former journalist and winner of France’s prestigious Albert Londres prize, Leconte built his documentary around the trial, following every step of the controversy as in a detective movie.

 

In his conclusion, the director finally weighs in favour of the journalists’ defiant standpoint, paying homage to the French principle of “laïcité,” or secularism.  

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