President Jacques Chirac made US film director Steven Spielberg a knight in the French Legion of Honour on Sunday, hailing him as a great filmmaker committed to fighting hatred and intolerance.

Chirac praised Spielberg’s ability to touch people and said films such as “Schindler’s List” ensured the world did not forget about acts of heroism in dark periods of history.

“In this difficult time when intolerance, racism, xenophobia, anti-Semitism and fanaticism are on the rise again, it is essential that cinema, which touches each one of us deep inside, recalls the horror of what is unutterable,” Chirac said at a ceremony in the presidential Elysee Palace. “It is essential that this form of eminently popular expression and creativity reminds everyone of the disastrous effects of hatred, intolerance and the rejection of others.”

Accepting France’s top award, Spielberg hailed France’s efforts to fight anti-Semitism. The country has witnessed a wave of attacks against Jews and Muslims and their property in recent months.

“We have to work very, very hard to make people understand that we have to celebrate people’s differences and not condemn them,” he said.

Spielberg is also in France to promote his latest movie, “The Terminal”, a romantic comedy starring Tom Hanks.