/ 27 May 2013

Spielberg defends lesbian sex scene in Palme d’Or-winning film

French actresses Lea Seydoux
French actresses Lea Seydoux

The French film took this year's top honours at the Cannes Film Festival on Sunday.

"For me, the film is a great love story and the fact that it's a great love story made all of us feel like we were privileged, not embarrassed, to be flies on the wall," Spielberg, who headed the jury, told reporters after the awards ceremony.

He was answering a question about whether French-Tunisian director Abdellatif Kechiche's film, which contains a torrid six-minute sex scene, would pass censors in the United States.

"We're just happy someone had the courage to tell the story the way he told it," Spielberg said, adding he was convinced the film would be a success in the US. – Sapa-DPA