14 DAY TRIAL // Famous and often controversial director Lars Von Trier brought his latest film, “Melancholia,” to Cannes this year, in the hope of getting a wider platform to promote it. Instead, he got himself banned from the festival for making Nazi comments during a photocall.
While talking to the media about the film and the challenges it posed when it was being made, Von Trier said something about Jews, adding that he “understood” were Hitler was coming from as far as they were concerned.
Though he later apologized, at the request of the organizers, he still got banned from the prestigious film festival, Movie Line informs, citing a statement from the organizers themselves.
Starting from now, Von Trier is persona non grata – and chances are he will not be welcomed back to the festival anytime soon.
“The Festival de Cannes provides artists from around the world with an exceptional forum to present their works and defend freedom of expression and creation,” reads the statement from the organizers.
“The Festival’s Board of Directors, which held an extraordinary meeting this Thursday 19 May 2011, profoundly regrets that this forum has been used by Lars Von Trier to express comments that are unacceptable, intolerable, and contrary to the ideals of humanity and generosity that preside over the very existence of the Festival,” it is further said.
“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,” the statement says.
The media blitz generated by Von Trier’s comments during said press conference not only got him banned from Cannes but also managed to entirely eclipse the movie he had made and was trying to promote.
“What can I say? I understand Hitler. I think he did some wrong things, absolutely, but – I can see him in his bunker in the end,” he said, concluding with “yes, I’m a Nazi.”
Obviously, Von Trier was just trying to make a joke and it came out in very bad taste: check out the video below to see how Kirsten Dunst, who stars in “Melancholia,” reacts to the first time Von Trier names Hitler.