Getting On With His Life

Thank you for the feedback. Report another imagePlease report the offensive image. CancelDoneHow does this sound? French rock star Bertrand Cantat, in a raging drunk, beat Marie Trintignant to death. Beating her with his bare hands he caused mortal brain damage to the young woman who was his girlfriend. That brutality, where the young woman suffered fractured facial bones through 19 strikes upon her face and head, cost Mr. Cantat four years of his life behind bars.

He had been convicted in a Lithuanian court and sentenced to 7 years in prison, but having served half his sentence, was released for good behaviour in 2007. The man is in the throes of reviving his illustrious career as one of France's most famous stars. Famous, then infamous, and striving once again for the mantle of fame.

He has been tapped by a personal friend, the Lebanese-Canadian playwright-director Wajdi Mouawad - whose origins accustomed him to violence and the need to get over it - to compose the score and sing, as part of the chorus in a rock adaptation of three Greek tragedies by Sophocles at the Theatre du Nouveau Monde, scheduled to open a year May.

Word does get out. Mr. Cantat's reputation has preceded him, angering theatre-goers and groups who work with abused women. They, if not the theatre communications director and others willing to forge ahead with their plans, can hardly believe that all can be forgiven in a spirit of theatrical "the-show-must-go-on" bravado since, after all, Mr. Cantat 'paid his dues' to society.

But as a convicted felon under Canada's Immigration Laws, anyone with the background that Mr. Cantat boasts is forbidden entry on a visa or by any other means to Canada, unless a sponsor persuades a Minister of the Crown to issue a special permit. And it is highly unlikely, if a Conservative-led government comes back to power, that any such special Minister's permit would be issued.

Despite that Mr. Cantat's friend is eager to aid with his rehabilitation: "Wajdi considers that it is also an opportunity for his friend to exorcise the horror of the act he committed .... To make amends in a show that denounces violence against women." (Theatre du Nouveau Monde director Lorraine Pintal)

Is that not too precious for words?