Deauville : Lee Daniels espère "des héros dans le public" As his film 'The Butler' tops the American box office, director Lee Daniels told the Deauville American film festival on Saturday that he hopes 'heroes' in the audience will be inspired by the film. Forest Whitaker, who plays a butler who served in the White House under seven different American presidents, said Barack Obama has seen and was 'affected' by the film. Images and soundbites.