They're Liberals, Rules Don't Apply

I wonder how harshly the smoking police will come down on such a liberal icon?

US actor and director Sean Penn has lit up and led a minor revolt at the Cannes film festival against France's tough new anti-smoking laws.

Penn, the head of the jury that will pick the best films, pulled out a cigarette and puffed on it at a press conference with fellow jury members, in defiance of laws in place since January that ban smoking in public enclosed spaces.

He only took a couple of drags before putting it aside and getting back to answering reporters' questions.

But jury member Marjane Satrapi, an Iranian director clearly inspired by her colleague's defiance, then asked to much laughter if anyone minded if she smoked "for medical reasons'.

Guffaws all around.