Director apologizes for Nazi jokes in Cannes

CANNES, France?— Danish director Lars von Trier apologized on Wednesday for joking about Nazis and Hitler to reporters at the Cannes film festival, remarks that shocked organizers and caused offense among Jewish groups.

The maverick film maker is at the cinema showcase with competition entry "Melancholia," a grand cinematic statement on life, death and the universe which wowed a packed audience at a press screening in the giant Grand Theater Lumiere.

But his provocative comments, which appeared to have been made in jest, overshadowed the triumph some journalists and critics felt his movie to be and may harm his chances of winning the Palme d'Or in Cannes for best picture.

"You can't award him a Palme d'Or, politically," said Jason Solomons, chairman of the Film Critics' Circle in London who is in Cannes for the May 11-22 festival.

"People might say it should go to the art and not the artist, but these days I don't think that's true or right," he told Reuters after hearing von Trier's remarks.

Festival organizers demanded an explanation from the 55-year-old filmmaker, and von Trier issued the following statement: "If I have hurt someone this morning by the words I said at the press conference, I sincerely apologize.

"I am not anti-Semitic or racially prejudiced in any way, nor am I a Nazi."

His comments dominated press coverage from Cannes on Wednesday. The Hollywood Reporter remarked that the director had "pulled a Mel Gibson," in reference to the latter's anti-Semitic slurs in 2006 that badly harmed his reputation.

The American Gathering of Holocaust Survivors and their Descendants said in a statement: "Holocaust survivors condemn Von Trier's repulsive comments as an insensitive exploitation of victims' suffering for self-serving promotion and publicity.

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"We cannot give a review of his film, but as a person von Trier is a moral failure."

At the press conference for "Melancholia," the director who won the Palme d'Or in 2000 was asked to expand on comments he made in an interview about his interest in the Nazi aesthetic.

"I thought I was a Jew for a long time and was very happy being a Jew," said von Trier, who, according to biographies was told by his mother on her death bed that the father he had known all his life was not his real father.

"Then later on came (Jewish and Danish director) Susanne Bier and then suddenly I wasn't so happy about being a Jew. No, that was a joke, sorry.

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"But it turned out I was not a Jew but even if I'd been a Jew I would be kind of a second rate Jew because there is kind of a hierarchy in the Jewish population.

"But anyway, I really wanted to be a Jew and then I found out I was really a Nazi, you know, because my family was German ... which also gave me some pleasure."

"Melancholia" star Kirsten Dunst looked uncomfortable as he made his remarks, which took reporters by surprise.

"What can I say? I understand Hitler. I think he did some wrong things, yes absolutely, but I can see him sitting in his bunker in the end.

"I think I understand the man. He's not what you would call a good guy, but I understand much about him and I sympathize with him a little bit. But come on, I'm not for the Second World War, and I'm not against Jews.

"I am of course very much for Jews. No, not too much because Israel is a pain in the ass. But still, how can I get out of this sentence?"

He expressed admiration for Nazi architect Albert Speer before ending another rambling sentence with: "OK, I'm a Nazi."

One reporter asked whether he could imagine making a movie that was even bigger in scale than "Melancholia."

"Yeah, that's what we Nazis ... we have a tendency to try to do things on a greater scale. Yeah, maybe you could persuade me." He also muttered "the final solution with journalists."

As the press conference broke up, Dunst, who was no longer smiling, could be heard saying: "Oh Lars, that was intense."

Copyright 2011 Thomson Reuters. Click for restrictions.

View the original article here

Director Trier shocks Cannes with Nazi, Hitler jokes

CANNES, France (Reuters) – Danish director Lars Von Trier jokingly declared himself a Nazi at a press conference at the Cannes film festival on Wednesday, causing consternation among the assembled reporters and offense among Jewish groups.

The maverick film maker is at the cinema showcase with competition entry "Melancholia," a grand cinematic statement on life, death and the universe which wowed a packed audience at a press screening in the giant Grand Theater Lumiere.

But his provocative comments, which appeared to have been made in jest, threatened to overshadow the triumph some journalists and critics felt his movie to be and may harm his chances of winning the Palme d'Or in Cannes for best picture.

"You can't award him a Palme d'Or, politically," said Jason Solomons, chairman of the Film Critics' Circle in London, who is in Cannes for the May 11-22 festival.

"People might say it should go to the art and not the artist, but these days I don't think that's true or right," he told Reuters after hearing Von Trier's remarks.

The Hollywood Reporter remarked that the 55-year-old had "pulled a Mel Gibson," in reference to the latter's anti-Semitic slurs in 2006 that badly harmed his reputation.

The American Gathering of Holocaust Survivors and their Descendants said in a statement: "Holocaust survivors condemn Von Trier's repulsive comments as an insensitive exploitation of victims' suffering for self-serving promotion and publicity.

"We cannot give a review of his film, but as a person Von Trier is a moral failure."

Flanked at the news conference by his two leading stars Charlotte Gainsbourg and Kirsten Dunst, Von Trier made several references to making a long porn film featuring the actresses.

"I UNDERSTAND HITLER"

As the conference drew to a close, the director, who won the Palme d'Or in 2000 with "Dancer in the Dark," was asked to expand on comments he made in a recent interview regarding his interest in the Nazi aesthetic.

"I thought I was a Jew for a long time and was very happy being a Jew," said Von Trier, who, according to biographies was told by his mother on her death bed that the father he had known all his life was not his real father.

"Then later on came (Jewish and Danish director) Susanne Bier and then suddenly I wasn't so happy about being a Jew. No, that was a joke, sorry.

"But it turned out I was not a Jew but even if I'd been a Jew I would be kind of a second rate Jew because there is kind of a hierarchy in the Jewish population.

"But anyway, I really wanted to be a Jew and then I found out I was really a Nazi, you know, because my family was German ... which also gave me some pleasure."

Dunst looked uncomfortable as he continued his remarks, which clearly took reporters by surprise.

"What can I say? I understand Hitler. I think he did some wrong things, yes absolutely, but I can see him sitting in his bunker in the end.

"I think I understand the man. He's not what you would call a good guy, but I understand much about him and I sympathize with him a little bit. But come on, I'm not for the Second World War, and I'm not against Jews.

"I am of course very much for Jews. No, not too much because Israel is a pain in the ass. But still, how can I get out of this sentence?"

He expressed admiration for Nazi architect Albert Speer before ending another rambling sentence with: "OK, I'm a Nazi."

One reporter asked whether he could imagine making a movie that was even bigger in scale than "Melancholia."

"Yeah, that's what we Nazis ... we have a tendency to try to do things on a greater scale. Yeah, may be you could persuade me." He also muttered "the final solution with journalists."

As the press conference broke up, Dunst, who was no longer smiling, could be heard saying: "Oh Lars, that was intense."

(Reporting by Mike Collett-White, editing by Paul Casciato)

View the original article here

Director apologizes for Nazi, Hitler jokes in Cannes

CANNES, France (Reuters) – Danish director Lars Von Trier apologized on Wednesday for joking about Nazis and Hitler to reporters at the Cannes film festival, remarks that shocked organizers and caused offence among Jewish groups.

The maverick film maker is at the cinema showcase with competition entry "Melancholia," a grand cinematic statement on life, death and the universe which wowed a packed audience at a press screening in the giant Grand Theater Lumiere.

But his provocative comments, which appeared to have been made in jest, overshadowed the triumph some journalists and critics felt his movie to be and may harm his chances of winning the Palme d'Or in Cannes for best picture.

"You can't award him a Palme d'Or, politically," said Jason Solomons, chairman of the Film Critics' Circle in London who is in Cannes for the May 11-22 festival.

"People might say it should go to the art and not the artist, but these days I don't think that's true or right," he told Reuters after hearing Von Trier's remarks.

Festival organizers demanded an explanation from the 55-year-old film maker, and Von Trier issued the following statement: "If I have hurt someone this morning by the words I said at the press conference, I sincerely apologize.

"I am not anti-Semitic or racially prejudiced in any way, nor am I a Nazi."

His comments dominated press coverage from Cannes on Wednesday. The Hollywood Reporter remarked that the director had "pulled a Mel Gibson," in reference to the latter's anti-Semitic slurs in 2006 that badly harmed his reputation.

The American Gathering of Holocaust Survivors and their Descendants said in a statement: "Holocaust survivors condemn Von Trier's repulsive comments as an insensitive exploitation of victims' suffering for self-serving promotion and publicity.

"We cannot give a review of his film, but as a person Von Trier is a moral failure."

"I UNDERSTAND HITLER"

At the press conference for "Melancholia," the director who won the Palme d'Or in 2000 was asked to expand on comments he made in an interview about his interest in the Nazi aesthetic.

"I thought I was a Jew for a long time and was very happy being a Jew," said Von Trier, who, according to biographies was told by his mother on her death bed that the father he had known all his life was not his real father.

"Then later on came (Jewish and Danish director) Susanne Bier and then suddenly I wasn't so happy about being a Jew. No, that was a joke, sorry.

"But it turned out I was not a Jew but even if I'd been a Jew I would be kind of a second rate Jew because there is kind of a hierarchy in the Jewish population.

"But anyway, I really wanted to be a Jew and then I found out I was really a Nazi, you know, because my family was German ... which also gave me some pleasure."

"Melancholia" star Kirsten Dunst looked uncomfortable as he made his remarks, which took reporters by surprise.

"What can I say? I understand Hitler. I think he did some wrong things, yes absolutely, but I can see him sitting in his bunker in the end.

"I think I understand the man. He's not what you would call a good guy, but I understand much about him and I sympathize with him a little bit. But come on, I'm not for the Second World War, and I'm not against Jews.

"I am of course very much for Jews. No, not too much because Israel is a pain in the ass. But still, how can I get out of this sentence?"

He expressed admiration for Nazi architect Albert Speer before ending another rambling sentence with: "OK, I'm a Nazi."

One reporter asked whether he could imagine making a movie that was even bigger in scale than "Melancholia."

"Yeah, that's what we Nazis ... we have a tendency to try to do things on a greater scale. Yeah, maybe you could persuade me." He also muttered "the final solution with journalists."

As the press conference broke up, Dunst, who was no longer smiling, could be heard saying: "Oh Lars, that was intense."

(Reporting by Mike Collett-White; editing by Philippa Fletcher)

View the original article here

Lars Von Trier's Hitler jokes get him banned from Cannes

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Lars von Trier’s Hitler jokes further annoy Cannes organizers
Uncategorized ? posted by otownrog on May, 19 2011 8:04 AM Discuss This: Comments(10) | Add to del.icio.us| Digg it

It seems hilariously obvious to anybody reading the transcript of his “Melancholia” press conference that Lars von Trier was joking when he comically went off on his fellow Dane, Oscar winning director Susanne Bier (who is Jewish, and a friend of his) and tossed in a few words about Hitler at a press conference at Cannes.

He said he had decided was a Nazi and that he understands Hitler.

Here’s the video of the comments in question.

The first reports of this press conference suggested that the folks there sort of got it, too. Though some (check out cast member Kirsten Dunst, failing to laugh when she should have) perhaps not picking up on Von Trier’s gift for the deadpan delivery of outrageous statements (He does this sort of thing in most interviews, told me once how useless he thought his cast when I got him on set of one of his films) were a bit slack-jawed.

The Cannes organizers have gotten into a bigger and bigger huff over it.
They’ve banned him from Cannes. “Persona non grata.” Bummer.

Where is their collective sense of humor? Maybe Bier ought to say something. Or is it funnier to watch Von Trier twist in the wind?

Watch the video. Did you think he was joking?

Add a comment Comments

Interesting how they ban Lars for making a questionable joke but they fall all over themselves when Roman Polanski walks into the room. At least they’re still keeping Melancholia around. And it looks like Kirsten Dunst’s humor is on par with her acting ability.

Reply Posted by: Shawn |Thursday, May 19, 2011 at 12:45 PM

Polanski is a genius!

Reply Posted by: Ace |Thursday, May 19, 2011 at 1:21 PM

If your idea of a genius is a pedophile, I guess you must think the coverup report just released by the Catholic Church is also a work of genius. Many of us think otherwise.

Reply Posted by: Argy Bargy |Thursday, May 19, 2011 at 3:02 PM

I read all about this before seeing the clip itself. I went in thinking, ok, maybe he’s really joking. But there’s nothing remotely funny about the content, and there’s nothing in his delivery that tells me he’s being funny. Deadpan delivery has its own trademarks … I just don’t see it here.

The sight of the lovely Ms. Dunst shooting him dagger after dagger is an odd sort of entertainment, though.

Reply Posted by: Christian Toto |Thursday, May 19, 2011 at 3:45 PM

Further context, he’d just cracked that his star, Kirsten Dunst, was doing a “porno” next.
He was joking. That’s probably why she wasn’t laughing. And for a Dane, he’s no Victor Borge. The Bier jabs gave it away for me. They have been friends/rivals for ages.
To me, Dunst could have laughed at the right moment and ended the whole thing, right then and there. He was fishing for a laugh that didn’t come. Been there, done that. So has Michael Richards, among others.
And Bier will probably be the one who speaks up and makes all right in the ex-Dogme 95 Universe.

Posted by: otownrog |Thursday, May 19, 2011 at 4:10 PM

It doesn’t look he has the gift of deadpan delivery at all.

Watch the longer version. No idea he’s rambling about, other than Hitler and Nazis.

Reply Posted by: oldhat |Thursday, May 19, 2011 at 4:57 PM

They ban a guy for a few jokes and let that child-molesting Piece of S*&tT travel anywhere and do whatever he wants, the French are a nation of whores… the next time Gerrmany comes in to say hello, we drop them Berlitz or Rosetta stone courses so they can learn the language cause they’re on their own!!

Reply Posted by: rick sarter |Thursday, May 19, 2011 at 5:23 PM

Polanski is a child rapist.

Reply Posted by: Laura |Friday, May 20, 2011 at 6:41 AM

Please watch *Wanted and Desired* – a great documentary on the Polanski case. Inform yourself.

Reply Posted by: Mike |Friday, May 20, 2011 at 6:47 PM

Seriously? The French “soul searching” that’s going on right now might very well be spilling over to Polanski. Protecting a groper/rapist is little better than looking the other way at a serial pedophile, whose victims are not limited to the one that got him convicted.
http://www.radaronline.com/exclusives/2010/07/exclusive-another-woman-accuses-roman-polanski-rape-takes-case-district-attorney

Posted by: otownrog |Saturday, May 21, 2011 at 3:37 PM

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Von Trier banned from Cannes

CANNES, France - Despite declaring bombastic Danish filmmaker Lars von Trier "a persona non grata" at Cannes 2011 for his stupid pro-Nazi jokes, the Cannes Film Festival put itself in a bureaucratic bind Thursday by leaving Melancholia in the running for awards, including the Palme d?Or as best film that von Trier covets so much.

That means Melancholia, von Trier?s end-of-the-world opus, could win an award from Robert De Niro?s official Cannes jury on Sunday but von Trier would not be allowed to accept it in person. This is according to Cannes sources. The official Cannes press release which banned von Trier ? in effect, if not in words ? made no mention of the status of his film in the awards race. Nor was there any indication that von Trier would continue to be what Cannes called ?a persona non grata? at future Cannes filmfests.

The festival?s Board of Directors issued its statement of condemnation because of von Trier?s public comments that included an aside about Adolf Hitler that ?I sympathize a bit with him.?

The statement said: ?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. The Festival?s Board of Directors, which held an extraordinary meeting this Thursday, 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. 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 tempest started Wednesday when the bombastic Dane ? who often says outrageous things, some of which are in jest ? declared ?I?m a Nazi!? during a long, rambling rant at the official press conference for Melancholia. Von Trier at first praised Jews, then condemned Israel as ?a pain in the ass.?He praised the work of Nazi architect Albert Speer, insulted his own Jewish colleague and business partner Susanne Bier, and offered his opinions on Hitler.

?What can I say?? von Trier declared. ?I understand Hitler. But I think he did some wrong things, absolutely. But I can see him sitting in his bunker at the end. I?m just saying I think I understood the man. He?s not what you would call a good guy but I understood much about him and I sympathize a bit with him.

?But I?m not for the Second World War and I?m not against Jews, no, not even Susanne Bier. I am of course very much for Jews. No, not too much because Israel is a pain in the ass. But still, how can I get out of this sentence? I?m very much for Speer. Albert Speer I like. He was also maybe one of God?s best children but he had some talent ... Okay, I?m a Nazi!?

Hours later, von Trier was doing damage control, obviously under pressure from Cannes officials. He blamed his rant on being ?egged on,? which is a bald-faced lie. The original question asked only for comment about the fact that von Trier recently discovered that his family has German roots. Von Trier also issued a statement Wednesday saying: ?I am not anti-semitic or racially prejudiced in any way, nor am I a Nazi.?

He is, however, an idiot for believing that jokes about Nazis have any place in Cannes ? or anywhere else, for that matter. But the weirdness of making von Trier ?a persona non grata? without any context has left media in Cannes feeling perplexed and conflicted.

Some think his jokes are just part of the usual von Trier publicity machine. Some think that declaring him ?a persona non grata? means the festival itself is stifling free speech. Los Angeles-based film journalist Jeffrey Wells has already tried to get a protest petition going to support von Trier (but not his Nazi jokes). Other critics have pointed out that Cannes has ?banning? von Trier but happily accepted Mel Gibson on the red carpet for Jodie Foster?s screening of The Beaver, in which Gibson co-stars. Gibson is known for an infamous, aloholic-fueled, anti-semitic tirade in California. So there seems to be a double standard.

The scandal roils and boils. And many critics believe that Melancholia really should be in the running for the Palme d?Or, along with Terrence Malick?s The Tree of Life, the Dardenne Brothers? The Kid With a Bike, Aki Kaurismaki?s Le Havre and Michel Hazanavicius? The Artist.

View the original article here

Director apologises for Nazi jokes in Cannes

 Von Trier (left) may have sabotaged his own chance of walking away with the Palme d’Or. — Reuters picCANNES, May 19 — Danish director Lars Von Trier apologised yesterday for joking about Nazis and Hitler to reporters at the Cannes film festival, remarks that shocked organisers and caused offence among Jewish groups.

The maverick film maker is at the cinema showcase with competition entry “Melancholia,” a grand cinematic statement on life, death and the universe which wowed a packed audience at a press screening in the giant Grand Theater Lumiere.

But his provocative comments, which appeared to have been made in jest, overshadowed the triumph some journalists and critics felt his movie to be and may harm his chances of winning the Palme d’Or in Cannes for best picture.

“You can’t award him a Palme d’Or, politically,” said Jason Solomons, chairman of the Film Critics’ Circle in London who is in Cannes for the May 11-22 festival.

“People might say it should go to the art and not the artist, but these days I don’t think that’s true or right,” he told Reuters after hearing Von Trier’s remarks.

Festival organisers demanded an explanation from the 55-year-old film maker, and Von Trier issued the following statement: “If I have hurt someone this morning by the words I said at the press conference, I sincerely apologise.

“I am not anti-Semitic or racially prejudiced in any way, nor am I a Nazi.”

His comments dominated press coverage from Cannes yesterday. The Hollywood Reporter remarked that the director had “pulled a Mel Gibson,” in reference to the latter’s anti-Semitic slurs in 2006 that badly harmed his reputation.

The American Gathering of Holocaust Survivors and their Descendants said in a statement: “Holocaust survivors condemn Von Trier’s repulsive comments as an insensitive exploitation of victims’ suffering for self-serving promotion and publicity.

“We cannot give a review of his film, but as a person Von Trier is a moral failure.”

At the press conference for “Melancholia,” the director who won the Palme d’Or in 2000 was asked to expand on comments he made in an interview about his interest in the Nazi aesthetic.

“I thought I was a Jew for a long time and was very happy being a Jew,” said Von Trier, who, according to biographies was told by his mother on her death bed that the father he had known all his life was not his real father.

“Then later on came (Jewish and Danish director) Susanne Bier and then suddenly I wasn’t so happy about being a Jew. No, that was a joke, sorry.

“But it turned out I was not a Jew but even if I’d been a Jew I would be kind of a second rate Jew because there is kind of a hierarchy in the Jewish population.

“But anyway, I really wanted to be a Jew and then I found out I was really a Nazi, you know, because my family was German... which also gave me some pleasure.”

“Melancholia” star Kirsten Dunst looked uncomfortable as he made his remarks, which took reporters by surprise.

“What can I say? I understand Hitler. I think he did some wrong things, yes absolutely, but I can see him sitting in his bunker in the end.

“I think I understand the man. He’s not what you would call a good guy, but I understand much about him and I sympathise with him a little bit. But come on, I’m not for the Second World War, and I’m not against Jews.

“I am of course very much for Jews. No, not too much because Israel is a pain in the ass. But still, how can I get out of this sentence?”

He expressed admiration for Nazi architect Albert Speer before ending another rambling sentence with: “OK, I’m a Nazi.”

One reporter asked whether he could imagine making a movie that was even bigger in scale than “Melancholia.”

“Yeah, that’s what we Nazis... we have a tendency to try to do things on a greater scale. Yeah, maybe you could persuade me.” He also muttered “the final solution with journalists.”

As the press conference broke up, Dunst, who was no longer smiling, could be heard saying: “Oh Lars, that was intense.” — Reuters

View the original article here

Lars von Trier’s Hitler jokes further annoy Cannes organizers

Uncategorized ? posted by otownrog on May, 19 2011 8:04 AM Discuss This: Comments(10) | Add to del.icio.us| Digg it

It seems hilariously obvious to anybody reading the transcript of his “Melancholia” press conference that Lars von Trier was joking when he comically went off on his fellow Dane, Oscar winning director Susanne Bier (who is Jewish, and a friend of his) and tossed in a few words about Hitler at a press conference at Cannes.

He said he had decided was a Nazi and that he understands Hitler.

Here’s the video of the comments in question.

The first reports of this press conference suggested that the folks there sort of got it, too. Though some (check out cast member Kirsten Dunst, failing to laugh when she should have) perhaps not picking up on Von Trier’s gift for the deadpan delivery of outrageous statements (He does this sort of thing in most interviews, told me once how useless he thought his cast when I got him on set of one of his films) were a bit slack-jawed.

The Cannes organizers have gotten into a bigger and bigger huff over it.
They’ve banned him from Cannes. “Persona non grata.” Bummer.

Where is their collective sense of humor? Maybe Bier ought to say something. Or is it funnier to watch Von Trier twist in the wind?

Watch the video. Did you think he was joking?

Add a comment Comments

Interesting how they ban Lars for making a questionable joke but they fall all over themselves when Roman Polanski walks into the room. At least they’re still keeping Melancholia around. And it looks like Kirsten Dunst’s humor is on par with her acting ability.

Reply Posted by: Shawn |Thursday, May 19, 2011 at 12:45 PM

Polanski is a genius!

Reply Posted by: Ace |Thursday, May 19, 2011 at 1:21 PM

If your idea of a genius is a pedophile, I guess you must think the coverup report just released by the Catholic Church is also a work of genius. Many of us think otherwise.

Reply Posted by: Argy Bargy |Thursday, May 19, 2011 at 3:02 PM

I read all about this before seeing the clip itself. I went in thinking, ok, maybe he’s really joking. But there’s nothing remotely funny about the content, and there’s nothing in his delivery that tells me he’s being funny. Deadpan delivery has its own trademarks … I just don’t see it here.

The sight of the lovely Ms. Dunst shooting him dagger after dagger is an odd sort of entertainment, though.

Reply Posted by: Christian Toto |Thursday, May 19, 2011 at 3:45 PM

Further context, he’d just cracked that his star, Kirsten Dunst, was doing a “porno” next.
He was joking. That’s probably why she wasn’t laughing. And for a Dane, he’s no Victor Borge. The Bier jabs gave it away for me. They have been friends/rivals for ages.
To me, Dunst could have laughed at the right moment and ended the whole thing, right then and there. He was fishing for a laugh that didn’t come. Been there, done that. So has Michael Richards, among others.
And Bier will probably be the one who speaks up and makes all right in the ex-Dogme 95 Universe.

Posted by: otownrog |Thursday, May 19, 2011 at 4:10 PM

It doesn’t look he has the gift of deadpan delivery at all.

Watch the longer version. No idea he’s rambling about, other than Hitler and Nazis.

Reply Posted by: oldhat |Thursday, May 19, 2011 at 4:57 PM

They ban a guy for a few jokes and let that child-molesting Piece of S*&tT travel anywhere and do whatever he wants, the French are a nation of whores… the next time Gerrmany comes in to say hello, we drop them Berlitz or Rosetta stone courses so they can learn the language cause they’re on their own!!

Reply Posted by: rick sarter |Thursday, May 19, 2011 at 5:23 PM

Polanski is a child rapist.

Reply Posted by: Laura |Friday, May 20, 2011 at 6:41 AM

Please watch *Wanted and Desired* – a great documentary on the Polanski case. Inform yourself.

Reply Posted by: Mike |Friday, May 20, 2011 at 6:47 PM

Seriously? The French “soul searching” that’s going on right now might very well be spilling over to Polanski. Protecting a groper/rapist is little better than looking the other way at a serial pedophile, whose victims are not limited to the one that got him convicted.
http://www.radaronline.com/exclusives/2010/07/exclusive-another-woman-accuses-roman-polanski-rape-takes-case-district-attorney

Posted by: otownrog |Saturday, May 21, 2011 at 3:37 PM

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AboutRoger Moore grew up in rural Virginia, a one-theater town, and that one only intermittently open.


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Director apologises for Nazi, Hitler jokes in Cannes

CANNES, France (Reuters) - Danish director Lars Von Trier apologised on Wednesday for joking about Nazis and Hitler to reporters at the Cannes film festival, remarks that shocked organisers and caused offence among Jewish groups.

The maverick film maker is at the cinema showcase with competition entry "Melancholia," a grand cinematic statement on life, death and the universe which wowed a packed audience at a press screening in the giant Grand Theatre Lumiere.

But his provocative comments, which appeared to have been made in jest, overshadowed the triumph some journalists and critics felt his movie to be and may harm his chances of winning the Palme d'Or in Cannes for best picture.

"You can't award him a Palme d'Or, politically," said Jason Solomons, chairman of the Film Critics' Circle in London who is in Cannes for the May 11-22 festival.

"People might say it should go to the art and not the artist, but these days I don't think that's true or right," he told Reuters after hearing Von Trier's remarks.

Festival organizers demanded an explanation from the 55-year-old film maker, and Von Trier issued the following statement: "If I have hurt someone this morning by the words I said at the press conference, I sincerely apologise.

"I am not anti-Semitic or racially prejudiced in any way, nor am I a Nazi."

His comments dominated press coverage from Cannes on Wednesday. The Hollywood Reporter remarked that the director had "pulled a Mel Gibson," in reference to the latter's anti-Semitic slurs in 2006 that badly harmed his reputation.

The American Gathering of Holocaust Survivors and their Descendants said in a statement: "Holocaust survivors condemn Von Trier's repulsive comments as an insensitive exploitation of victims' suffering for self-serving promotion and publicity.

"We cannot give a review of his film, but as a person Von Trier is a moral failure."

"I UNDERSTAND HITLER"

At the press conference for "Melancholia," the director who won the Palme d'Or in 2000 was asked to expand on comments he made in an interview about his interest in the Nazi aesthetic.

"I thought I was a Jew for a long time and was very happy being a Jew," said Von Trier, who, according to biographies was told by his mother on her death bed that the father he had known all his life was not his real father.

"Then later on came (Jewish and Danish director) Susanne Bier and then suddenly I wasn't so happy about being a Jew. No, that was a joke, sorry.

"But it turned out I was not a Jew but even if I'd been a Jew I would be kind of a second rate Jew because there is kind of a hierarchy in the Jewish population.

"But anyway, I really wanted to be a Jew and then I found out I was really a Nazi, you know, because my family was German ... which also gave me some pleasure."

"Melancholia" star Kirsten Dunst looked uncomfortable as he made his remarks, which took reporters by surprise.

"What can I say? I understand Hitler. I think he did some wrong things, yes absolutely, but I can see him sitting in his bunker in the end.

"I think I understand the man. He's not what you would call a good guy, but I understand much about him and I sympathise with him a little bit. But come on, I'm not for the Second World War, and I'm not against Jews.

"I am of course very much for Jews. No, not too much because Israel is a pain in the ass. But still, how can I get out of this sentence?"

He expressed admiration for Nazi architect Albert Speer before ending another rambling sentence with: "OK, I'm a Nazi."

One reporter asked whether he could imagine making a movie that was even bigger in scale than "Melancholia."

"Yeah, that's what we Nazis ... we have a tendency to try to do things on a greater scale. Yeah, maybe you could persuade me." He also muttered "the final solution with journalists."

As the press conference broke up, Dunst, who was no longer smiling, could be heard saying: "Oh Lars, that was intense."

(Reporting by Mike Collett-White; editing by Philippa Fletcher)

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Danish Director booted from Cannes film festival for Nazi jokes

Controversial Danish film director Lars Von Trier was kicked out from the Cannes Film Festival for uttering jokes that referred to himself as a Nazi and a Hitler sympathizer, according to Mirror News.

When asked about his German heritage during a press conference promoting his film Melancholia" title="WikiPilipinas: //www.melancholiathemovie.com/">Melancholia" rel="nofollow" target="wikipedia">//www.melancholiathemovie.com/">Melancholia, Von Trier replied, “What can I say? I understand Hitler. But I think he did some wrong things, absolutely. But I'm not for the Second World War and I'm not against Jews. I am of course very much for Jews. No, not too much because Israel is a pain in the ass.”

He then added: “I'm very much for Speer. Albert Speer I like. He was also maybe one of God's best children but he had some talent ... OK, I'm a Nazi!"

The Cannes Film Festival promptly declared the director persona non grata, and demanded an apology.? Von Trier immediately obliged.

"If I have hurt someone this morning by the news I said at the press conference, I sincerely apologize. I am not anti-Semitic or racially prejudiced in any way, nor am I a Nazi,” says von Trier, whose statements have stirred outrage from various Jewish groups.

"Hitler, the Nazis and the Holocaust are matters that should be treated with seriousness, not satire," said Abraham Foxman, national director of the Anti-Defamation League.

Von Trier, already controversial for his explicit use of unsimulated pornography for his films, also commented that he would like to have his Melanchoia stars Kirsten Dunst and Charlotte Gainsbourg to join his next project: a four-hour porn film entitled Nymphomaniac, which explores the sexuality of women.

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Von Trier jokes at Cannes about Nazi roots

CANNES, France, May 18 (UPI) -- Controversial Danish director Lars von Trier joked about his family's Nazi roots at a Cannes film festival press conference promoting his film, "Melancholia."

Von Trier's film credits include "Breaking the Waves," "Dancer in the Dark," "Dogville" and "Manderlay." His latest movie stars Kirsten Dunst and Charlotte Gainsbourg.

The Hollywood Reporter said the filmmaker, who is known for his dark humor, was asked about his Germanic roots at a Cannes news conference Wednesday and responded to the surprise of the journalists, Dunst and Gainsbourg: "For a long time I thought I was a Jew and I was happy to be a Jew, then I met [Danish and Jewish director] Susanne Bier and I wasn't so happy. But then I found out I was actually a Nazi. My family were German. And that also gave me some pleasure. What can I say? I understand Hitler … I sympathize with him a bit."

Von Trier went on to say: "I don't mean I'm in favor of World War II and I'm not against Jews, not even Susanne Bier. ... In fact, I'm very much in favor of them. All Jews. Well, Israel is a pain in the ass but …Now how can I get out of this sentence? OK. I'm a Nazi."

Queried later about whether he would like to make a film on a larger scale, he replied: "Yes. We Nazis like to do things on a big scale. Maybe I could do 'The Final Solution,' " The Hollywood Reporter said.

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