Robert De Niro Rips Into "America's Philistine President" at Cannes

CANNES, France – As the curtains rose on the festival’s inaugural evening, Cannes Film Festival Before the debut of the French romantic comedy musical "Partir un Jour (Leave One Day), " Leonardo DiCaprio stepped onto the stage at the Grand Auditorium Louis Lumière to bestow upon Robert De Niro the prestigious honorary Palme d'Or award. During his speech, DiCaprio shared a memorable story about an audacious early teen audition he attended for the 1993 movie "This Boy's Life." In hopes of standing out among the candidates, he delivered his lines with full-throated screaming. This comical approach earned laughs from the audience but also secured him a role alongside De Niro in the project.

DiCaprio stated that particular instant transformed his life permanently and initiated his whole career in the film industry. He further commended De Niro for advocating for their democracy, hinting at an upcoming passionate political address.

Once De Niro approached to accept his award, he faced approximately two minutes of continuous clapping. During this time, he gazed intently at the crowd, pausing for what felt like an eternity—initially appearing amused, subsequently somewhat irritated, before finally being overcome with thankfulness. Afterward, taking hold of the microphone, he expressed his appreciation towards both the festival organizers and the attendees, who included numerous well-known personalities from various fields. festival jurors Jeremy Strong and Halle Berry to director Quentin Tarantino.

De Niro shared his journey at the festival, starting from the premiere of "Mean Streets" in 1973 and jumping ahead five decades to today. Killers of the Flower Moon, Both were directed by Scorsese. He also mentioned some other significant achievements in his career, such as founding the Tribeca Film Festival in 2002, which he said was influenced by the atmosphere of Cannes.

"Just as Cannes is recognized for its openness and inclusivity, our event shares these values. The term 'democratic' keeps coming up. Back home, we’re fiercely defending the democracy that was once considered a given. This struggle impacts everyone since art thrives on democratization. Art unites people; it’s about bringing folks together, much like what we’re doing here tonight,” De Niro stated.

"Art seeks truth and celebrates diversity. This makes art threatening. It’s precisely why we pose a challenge to dictators and fascists. Our uncultured president has appointed himself at the helm of one of our leading cultural organizations,” he stated, referring to President Donald Trump’s new role as chair of the institution. Kennedy Center .

He has reduced funds and backing for the arts, humanities, and education. Now, he’s imposed a 100% tax on movies made outside of the U.S. Take a moment to consider what that means. While creativity may be invaluable, apparently it comes with a hefty tariff nowadays. Clearly, such measures are not acceptable. These assaults are entirely unacceptable. Moreover, this issue extends beyond America—it's a worldwide concern.

De Niro proceeded to advocate for organization, peaceful demonstrations, and casting votes. He concluded his speech by paying tribute to his host nation, France, quoting the country’s slogan: "Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité (freedom, equity, brotherhood)."

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