Sean Penn leads Cannes revolt against French smoking ban

0 Comments | AFP, May, 2008

CANNES, France (AFP) — US actor and director Sean Penn lit up and led a minor revolt at the Cannes film festival against France's draconian new anti-smoking laws.

Penn, the head of the jury that will pick the best films, pulled out a cigarette and puffed on it at a press conference with fellow jury members, in defiance of laws in place since January that ban smoking in public enclosed spaces.

He only took a couple of drags before putting it aside and getting back to answering reporters' questions.

But jury member Marjane Satrapi, an Iranian director clearly inspired by her colleague's defiance, then asked to much laughter if anyone minded if she smoked "for medical reasons."

She then lit a cigarette, with Penn and French actress Jeanne Balibar quickly following suit.

© 2008 AFP