Academy Award-winning French actor Juliette Binoche offered a nuanced perspective on the ongoing debate surrounding Timothée Chalamet's recent comments about ballet and opera, while attending the Thessaloniki Intl. Documentary Festival. Chalamet had stirred controversy during a 'CNN & Variety Town Hall Event' by stating that he didn’t want movie theaters to follow the path of 'ballet or opera,' where artists strive to 'keep this thing alive' even though 'no one cares' about it anymore. Binoche, initially flummoxed when asked about the viral remarks during a masterclass, quickly brushed them aside, quipping, 'I thought cinema was a dying art.' She emphasized a more profound view: 'It doesn’t matter what he’s saying. It doesn’t matter. Don’t make it big. What nourishes your heart and soul is what is important. You can watch a lot of films that are empty and make you dry at the end. What counts is what is nourishing your soul and life.'

Binoche’s attendance at the Greek festival was for her dance-themed directorial debut, 'In-I In Motion,' a candid documentary chronicling her 2008 stage collaboration with British dancer and choreographer Akram Khan. The film, which premiered in San Sebastian and is slated for CPH:DOX in Copenhagen, was meticulously assembled from rehearsal footage and live recordings of the finished stage production. Variety’s Guy Lodge praised the film for offering 'raw access to the creation process, and the rare fascination of watching two leading artists at times out of their depth, figuring out new dimensions to their craft on the hoof.' Binoche spoke extensively about the nearly two-decade journey to bring her directorial vision to life, reflecting on how dance and acting have taught her to 'embrace' her fears. She shared invaluable lessons from working with acclaimed directors like Leos Carax, Abbas Kiarostami, and Olivier Assayas, advocating for authenticity: 'Be yourself. Trust your intuition. Don’t try to be somebody else. Everybody’s different. Just trust your difference. And go for it.'

A significant impetus for 'In-I In Motion' came from Robert Redford, who, having seen the 2008 stage performance live in New York, urged Binoche to transform it into a film. 'I could hear what Robert Redford said to me, ‘You’ve got to make a film out of this show.’ I just heard him. And I knew he was right, but I didn’t know how to do it,' Binoche recalled, highlighting the initial challenges of lacking production support, funding, and an editor. It was only with the involvement of producers Ola Strøm and Solène Léger that she realized 'the world want[ed] me to do this.' Despite her role in directing, Binoche humbly downplayed her contribution to documentary filmmaking, noting that, as throughout her career, she was primarily in front of the camera, with footage shot by her sister, Marion Stalens. She honored 'the master of documentaries,' Frederick Wiseman, who passed away recently, and celebrated the broader community of documentary filmmakers as unheralded 'warriors' risking their lives for truth: 'It’s a struggle, but I think a struggle that’s worth it because we need those documents in order to be closer to the truth of what’s going on.'

The controversy ignited by Chalamet’s remarks has seen continued backlash, notably from ballet dancer Misty Copeland, who had previously been involved in promoting his film 'Marty Supreme.' Copeland criticized Chalamet during an Aveeno panel, expressing surprise given her promotional role. She argued that while ballet and opera might not be as 'popular' in pop culture as movies, their 'enduring relevance' in culture is undeniable. 'There’s a reason that the opera and ballet have been around for over 400 years,' Copeland stated, further asserting that Chalamet 'wouldn’t be an actor and have the opportunities he has as a movie star if it weren’t for opera and ballet and their relevance in that medium. So all of these mediums have a space and we shouldn’t be comparing them.'

Copeland’s comments amplified the growing criticism from the arts community. London’s Royal Ballet and Opera publicly responded via Instagram, sharing footage of their craftspeople and performers with an inviting message to Chalamet: 'Every night at the Royal Opera House, thousands of people gather for ballet and opera… If you’d like to reconsider, [Timothée Chalamet], our doors are open.' In a more lighthearted, yet pointed, reaction, The Seattle Opera began offering discounted tickets for its 'Carmen' production using the promo code 'Timothée.' The Thessaloniki Intl. Documentary Festival concludes on March 15.