Dunkirk anger at Deneuve comments

FRENCH film icon Catherine Deneuve has angered the residents of Dunkirk after likening the seaside town where her latest film was shot to "sadness, cigarettes and alcohol".

The award-winning actress will be on the red carpet at the Cannes film festival tonight for the opening screening of La Tête Haute directed by Emmanuelle Bercot.

The production received a €150,000 grant from the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region and Deneuve's interview for Elle magazine has prompted calls for a local boycott of the film.

The star, who plays a youth court judge, said: "It seemed a town of sadness. Sure, it's a port. What really works here are cigarettes and alcohol."

Local paper La Voix du Nord said investors would be disappointed to have the town's reputation "cut to pieces at the height of the film's promotional campaign".

Dunkirk mayor Patrice Vergriete said he was "hurt" and "very disappointed" that the actress had failed to see the town's good side, "our long sandy beach, the historic port, the panoramic views".

He added: "How can she make such a judgement in just a few hours of to-ing and fro-ing between her hotel and the court building?"

Several Facebook campaign groups have been set up calling on Deneuve to apologise - and urging local residents not to see the film.

Deneuve's first time at Cannes was in 1964. Tonight's opening ceremony begins at 19.00 and is broadcast unencrypted on Canal+.

Tourism agency Atout France says the festival generates €72million a year for the local economy, for a budget of €20million.

It attracts an estimated 84,000 visitors, including 4,500 accredited journalists.