France

[FR] Respect for Beliefs

IRIS 1997-9:1/12

Charlotte Vier

Légipresse

The association AGRIF (general alliance against racism and for the respect of the French and Christian identity), after attempting without success some years ago to have Jean-Luc Godard's film "Je vous salue Marie" ("Hail Mary") banned from general release, recently petitioned the judge for urgent matters to ban its broadcast on the Arte channel at 11.30 pm. The applicants maintained that broadcasting of the film was likely to hurt the members of the association in their beliefs and in their feelings, but also to disturb many viewers who respected spiritual values. In support of its petition, the association claimed that the images and dialogue were often coarse, while the tenor of many scenes and the derision of the character of Mary constituted a manifestly unlawful disturbance. The judge threw out the petition on the grounds that the film was scheduled for late evening, that it had been announced in the press as a disturbing and highly controversial film, and that this announcement therefore enabled anyone to avoid having his convictions offended by simply deciding to not watch the film. The presiding judge of the regional court in Paris nevertheless took care to recommend, in a somewhat loose wording, that the channel - in view of its missions of serving the public interest - should take steps to lessen "the legitimate emotion of the petitioners".