MONTREAL - A former French rock star who was convicted of manslaughter in the beating death of his girlfriend has found a new job -- in a Montreal theatre production.
Bertrand Cantat spent four years behind bars for the 2003 killing of popular French actress Marie Trintignant, who was beaten in a hotel room in Vilnius, Lithuania.
Today, Cantat is preparing for a role in an upcoming Greek tragedy by the acclaimed Wajdi Mouawad, who wrote the play "Incendies."
Lorraine Pintal, the director of Montreal's Theatre du nouveau monde, said has been bombarded by messages of support -- but also of outrage -- over Cantat's selection to compose the production's music as well as perform.
"We can't make such a decision to allow a public figure like Bertrand Cantat -- who committed this crime that we all remember -- without thinking that there will be a reaction from people," Pintal said in an interview Tuesday.
"But I can say that I was not expecting this media storm."
Pintal said the creative team behind the production of the Sophocles tragedies, which are scheduled to run in May and June 2012, was open to the idea of having Cantat on board.
"I think we can give him a second chance," Pintal said.
But the public reaction in Quebec has not been as welcoming for the former lead singer of the French rock band Noir Desir.
The director of a federation that represents 37 women's shelters in the province said Cantat is not welcome because he has never addressed or explained his crime publicly.
"We are quite perplexed about this choice," Manon Monastesse said.
"Yes, he has the right to live, but Ms. Trintignant also had the right to live."
A Lithuanian court convicted Cantat in 2004 and he was transferred to France after his trial.
Cantat, 47, was granted early release from jail for good behaviour after serving half of an eight-year sentence.
Monastesse argues that in a Quebec court, he would have been charged with a more serious offence.
Pintal said she sympathizes with people who may be hurt by Cantat's inclusion, but she stressed that he deserves a chance to reintegrate society.
"There are some things that are very powerful in the collective memory, so I understand very well their position and their hesitation," Pintal said of those who oppose the theatre's choice.
"Should we ourselves be judges of Bertrand Cantat?
"That's a role that I don't want to take on and that's the reason why I didn't object to the presence of Bertrand Cantat."
Pintal said Mouawad first suggested about a year ago that Cantat be included in the production.
The two men struck up a professional relationship after Cantat was released from a Toulouse prison.
"They developed a friendship and Wajdi told me that, helped by this friendship, Bertrand Cantat found a second freedom and above all dignity," she said.
Mouawad believes Cantat's rock 'n' roll will give the performances a present-day feel, she said.
Pintal dismissed the suggestion that Cantat's role is a ploy to sell tickets at the box office.
"Not at all," she said.
"We never thought about the fact that Bertrand Cantat on the (Theatre du nouveau monde) stage could in any way be a promotional attraction."
It remains unclear, however, whether Cantat will even be allowed into Canada.
Pintal said Mouawad and Cantat are looking into how he will gain entry into the country.
Trintignant was in Lithuania working on a film when the two had the fatal tussle in a hotel room.
Their relationship fascinated French fans, who were shocked by her death.
