Cannes bans director Von Trier after Nazi comments
Danish film director Lars von Trier is banned from the Cannes Film Festival after jokingly telling a press conference he sympathised with Adolf Hitler and that he “is a Nazi”.
At a conference for his new film Melancholia, Lars von Trier responded to a question about his German heritage by saying: “I thought I was a Jew for a long time and was very happy being a Jew … Then it turned out that I was not a Jew. I found out that I was really a Nazi, which also gave me some pleasure.”
“What can I say? I understand Hitler. He did some wrong things, absolutely, but I can see him sitting there in his bunker at the end… I sympathise with him, yes, a little bit,” the director continued.
He added: “But come on, I am not for the Second World War and I am not against Jews. I am very much for Jews. Well, not too much because Israel is a pain in the ass. But still… How can I get out of this sentence? OK, I’m a Nazi.”
The director went on to say he wanted to film hardcore pornography featuring Kirsten Dunst, one of Melancholia’s stars. The comment, perhaps intended as a joke, caused Dunst visible discomfort as she sat next to him at the conference.
He has since apologised for the remarks and denied he is anti-semitic.
I am very much for Jews. Well, not too much because Israel is a pain in the ass. How can I get out of this sentence? OK, I’m a Nazi. Lars von Trier
Festival President Gilles Jacob said von Trier had been banned from the rest of this year’s festival, although he would not elaborate if the filmmaker might be allowed back in future years.
In a statement, the organisers “profoundly” regretted the filmmaker’s remarks, which they described as “unacceptable, intolerable, and contrary to the ideals of humanity and generosity that preside over the very existence of the festival.”
It continued: “The board of directors firmly condemns these comments and declares Lars von Trier a persona non grata at the Festival de Cannes, with effect immediately.”
Thierry Fremaux, the general director at Cannes, said von Trier had told festival officials he “accepts the punishment.”
The board of directors declares Lars von Trier a persona non grata at the Festical de Cannes. Statement by Cannes Film Festival organisers
“He’s upset by this matter,” Fremaux said. “He recognized that the festival had to take a firm position in regards to his comments.”
Jacob said the board also considered throwing Melancholia out of the festival, “but in the end, the position that was taken was to distinguish between the work and the person”.
Von Trier, a festival favorite, has had nine films in the Cannes main competition since 1984, among them Dogville, Manderlay and Breaking the Waves, which won was runner-up for the Grand Prix in 1996. Von Trier’s 2009 entry Antichrist earned the festival’s best-actress award for Gainsbourg.