Controversial Director Lars von Trier Banned From Cannes Film Festival

By Elizabeth Yun Posted May 19th 2011 11:44AM

Following some rather colorful remarks from controversial Danish director Lars von Trier, the Cannes Film Festival declared him a persona non grata on Thursday (May 19), according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Von Trier raised more than a few eyebrows when he made some off-the-cuff comments at the press conference for his new film 'Melancholia' starring Kirsten Dunst and Charlotte Gainsbourg. A verbal jab at fellow Danish filmmaker and rival Susanne Bier somehow mutated into an anti-Semitic rant in which he claimed that he is "actually a Nazi," he "sympathize[s] with [Hitler] a bit" and him macabrely joking about his next film, "We Nazis like to do things on a big scale. Maybe I could do 'The Final Solution.'"

His dark sense of humor was clearly lost on Cannes' board of directors, who, despite a swift apology from the director, held a meeting today and voted to blacklist von Trier from the festival. In a statement they said, "The board of directors 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."

Shortly after the press conference, Von Trier issued a statement: "If I have hurt someone 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."

It wasn't the only comment that had people squirming at the junket. He also made Dunst visibly uncomfortable when he put his star's personal life on blast, saying, "I would say Kirsten, thank god, has some knowledge of depression. We talked a lot about how things should look and I think she is doing extremely well." Dunst went to rehab for depression in 2008.

Von Trier is famous for making critically acclaimed, but incredibly dark and oft controversial, films such as 'Breaking the Waves,' 'Dogville' and 'Dancer in the Dark.' 'Melancholia' has been very well-received so far, with several critics hailing it as "mesmerizing" and a "masterpiece."

Tags: cannes film festival, lars von trier

Comments

(9)

Thursday 19 May

By tony

Vote down Vote up Report this

shouldve kept your mouth shut nazi.

By Sherwood

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

He prefers to shut other people mouths. I ran into him at a pub in London and started to say how much I liked his work and before I even got around to asking for a sig he clamped his hand across my mouth and said to please leave him alone. Maybe I was being too intrusive but I still found it a bit rude.

By Georgia

How embarrasing for you! I hope he didn't hold your mouth for too long!! Guess that goes to show we should not interrupt a celebrity at dinner or drink!

By boyadj45

happening too often. looks like anti jewishness is a dormant virus.

By poughkeepsiejohn

I've seen some of Lars Von Trier's recent films and it doesn't surprise me that his mindset would be like this. Maybe he should just make a movie called "I Hate Everything Including Myself".

By jpuzzlewhiz

Hells bells, why stop with the Cannes festival? This wahckjob bastard should be banned from the ranks of the LIVING!

By CARL

YES I AGREE WHAT HE SAID IS VERY UPSETTING BUT LIKE ME AND YOU HE CAN EXPRESS HIMSELF... BUT BYE CALLING HIM NAMES AND STUFF DOES NOTHING BUT MAKE US LIKE HIM.. WHAT WE SHOULD DO AND I AM GOING TO DO IS STOP GOING TO HIS MOVIES AND BOYCOT THE PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT HIS FILMS... GET HIM WHERE IT HURTS HIS WALLET!!! AND HOPEFULLY THE STUDIOS WHO SUPPORT HIM NO LONGER WILL..

By themeeker

Das ist ein BIG DOUCHEBAG.

I'll never see any of this goosestepping ahole's movies.

By jivejerky

every time my pet gerbil turns into a potato, he loses his German accent.

Page 1 of 1