French law up in smoke in Cannes
Posted by: Mike Collett-White
Cannes jury president Sean Penn defied French anti-smoking laws on Wednesday, lighting up a cigarette at a news conference at the start of the Cannes film festival.
Joined by French actress and fellow jury member Jeanne Balibar sitting next to him, Penn needed little persuading after one of the journalists present asked facetiously whether people with medical needs would be allowed to smoke.
Smoking in public buildings has been banned in France since 2007.
