|
 The carnival, held in the Mediterranean city since 1873, runs
from Feb. 16 until March 2 this year with the theme "King of
Cinema". It will honor the 100th anniversary of Victorine
Studios, a mainstay of the film industry in the south of France.
Artists and sculptors have been toiling for weeks to build and
decorate the giant figures that will adorn dozens of colorful
floats and bring the city's streets life during three weekends
of parades.
"Politics is a little bit of cinema. So it's good to mix them
together," said resident Fabienne Neuville, 65, with a laugh.
From Marvel comic book characters to an array of massive Charlie
Chaplin faces, with emotions ranging from angry to ashamed to
confused, few people escape ridicule.
"One imagines that's how these characters are perceived, they
create fear all around the world, and that's sort of the point
of carnival, and to bring that out through colors and costumes,"
said float creator Cedric Pignataro.
Alongside Trump and Putin, French President Emmanuel Macron,
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and North Korea's Kim Jong Un
are cast as cackling or alarming-looking clowns.
[to top of second column] |
Macron's wife Brigitte, who at 65 is 24 years older than the
president, is given a less-than-flattering makeover.
Weinstein is portrayed with a Hollywood actress. The movie mogul is
due to go on trial in May on charges of sexually assaulting two
women. He has pleaded not guilty.
More than 70 women have accused him of sexual misconduct. He has
denied all accusations and said any contact was consensual.
Once just a city affair, the Nice Carnival now draws visitors from
all over France and tourists from abroad. In the middle weekend of
the festival there is also "Lou Queernaval", dubbed as France's
first gay carnival.
(Writing by Luke Baker; Editing by Alison Williams)
[© 2019 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2019 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content. |
