Lars von Trier Admits to Being a Nazi, Understanding Hitler (Cannes 2011) (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/lars-von-trier-admits-being-189747)
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QuoteKirsten Dunst and Charlotte Gainsbourg look on in disbelief as the "Melancholia" director shocks at Cannes press conference, saying his next movie could be "The Final Solution."
CANNES – Danish director Lars von Trier pulled a Mel Gibson in Cannes Wednesday, giving a shocking and hilarious press conference for his new film Melancholia in which he admitted to being a Nazi, to understanding Hitler and speculated that his next movie could be The Final Solution. Watch here.
Von Trier has never been very P.C. and his Cannes press conferences always play like a dark stand-up routine, but at the Melancholia press conference he took it to another level, tossing a grenade into any sense of public decorum. In response to a question about his Germanic roots, Von Trier set off on a long and twisted answer that, if this were America, not Cannes, would have meant career suicide.
"For a long time I thought I was a Jew and I was happy to be a Jew," he began, "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 qualified that "I don't mean I'm in favor of World War II and I'm not against Jews, not even Susanne Bier" before digging himself deeper. "In fact I'm very much in favor of them. All Jews. Well, Israel is a pain in the ass but..."
As Melancholia stars Kirsten Dunst and Charlotte Gainsbourg, sitting on either side of Von Trier, stared at him agog, the director paused.
"Now how can I get out of this sentence? Ok. I'm a Nazi."
It was a grandiose performance by European cinema's premiere enfant terrible as Von Trier managed to shock just about everyone in the room. And also made them laugh with the sort of chuckle that gets caught in the throat.
The Nazi comments came at the end of a sprawling routine in which Von Trier said his new movie "may be crap...there's quite a big possibility that it might not be worth seeing" and mused that his next project with Dunst and Gainsbourg would be a 3 to 4 hour porn film "with lots of uncomfortable sex."
Von Trier's deadpan delivery and cheerful cherub-like smile hinted to the audience that everything was one big joke.
Certainly no one took the director seriously when, asked if he would like to do a film on a larger scale, answered: "Yes. We Nazis like to do things on a big scale. Maybe I could do The Final Solution."
During Cannes, it was also announced that von Trier and Martin Scorsese are teaming up for a remake of The Five Obstructions, von Trier's 2003 documentary deconstructing the film making process.
The project, called The Five Obstructions, Trier vs. Scorsese, pre-sold to Poland (Kino Swiat), Romanian (Independenta) and the Czech and Slovak Republics (Aero Films) at the Cannes market.
:lol:
A press conference worthy of Languish!
Lars von Trier Banned From Cannes Film Festival (Cannes 2011) (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/lars-von-trier-banned-cannes-190227)
Probably just pulling a Joaquin Phoenix or something.
He makes the kind of films I feel compelled to watch even though I know I'm not going to like them.
Never really liked von Trier, but quite frankly, this turns me around.
Epic. Troll. :D
Kirsten Dunst's face and reaction during the press conference was priceless. :lmfao:
Well. After watching the video the image is changed somewhat.
He's obviously nervous as all fuck while doing it, so it apparently took a lot of balls to go through with it.
I like that he described Melancholia as his first film to have an unhappy ending.
Quote from: garbon on May 19, 2011, 08:54:50 AM
I like that he described Melancholia as his first film to have an unhappy ending.
I'm still trying to figure how the ending of
Dancer in the Dark wasn't a happy ending. :hmm:
We should definitely extend a formal invitation to Lars von Trier to join Languish. He'd be right at home here.
Quote from: Slargos on May 19, 2011, 08:37:20 AM
Never really liked von Trier, but quite frankly, this turns me around.
Is anyone surprised? :D
What can I say, Lars still got the touch, or rather hasn't had his medication properly adjusted... :P
Has von Trier ever said anything he actually meant on a press conference? At least, they're always good for a headline or two.
Quote from: Drakken on May 19, 2011, 08:50:13 AM
Kirsten Dunst's face and reaction during the press conference was priceless. :lmfao:
Link?
Quote from: Liep on May 19, 2011, 10:10:36 AM
Has von Trier ever said anything he actually meant on a press conference? At least, they're always good for a headline or two.
Yeah, if he hadn't made his little stunt here would few people have known that he had made a new movie. People like me, I now know he has made the movie and what it's called, but I still don't have any idea what its about, have only bothered to read the part about him being a self declared nazi... ;)
I don't get it - he's obviously not being serious, why the kerfuffle? He just made a bunch of jokes that fell flat. So what.
Quote from: Malthus on May 19, 2011, 10:53:45 AM
I don't get it - he's obviously not being serious, why the kerfuffle? He just made a bunch of jokes that fell flat. So what.
It is an opportunity for a class of professional victims to revel in their victimhood, as well as a chance for those who get off on perceived moral superiority to condemn him and prove themselves worthy.
Quote from: Neil on May 19, 2011, 10:46:12 AM
Quote from: Drakken on May 19, 2011, 08:50:13 AM
Kirsten Dunst's face and reaction during the press conference was priceless. :lmfao:
Link?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LayW8aq4GLw
If he'd been serious, well, meh. If not, still meh. He's still a director who makes movies I'd pay not to see. When I think of good Danish movies, none of them has the von Trier taint.
His being banned from Cannes is rather more disturbing. With such an amount of poorly thought-out opinions wandering around in the form of actors in that place, banning von Trier for poor delivery is just mean to someone who obviously lacks social skills.
Quote from: Norgy on May 19, 2011, 11:24:33 AM
His being banned from Cannes is rather more disturbing. With such an amount of poorly thought-out opinions wandering around in the form of actors in that place, banning von Trier for poor delivery is just mean to someone who obviously lacks social skills.
Yeah, but what can you do?
Friend of mine made me watch Riget on DVD and coincidentally having seen the final two episodes just before hearing him speak of understanding Hitler etc I think I understand what he means - I think von Trier understands evil very well. Apparently there's been an American re-make of Riget...
Quote from: Norgy on May 19, 2011, 11:24:33 AMHis being banned from Cannes is rather more disturbing. With such an amount of poorly thought-out opinions wandering around in the form of actors in that place, banning von Trier for poor delivery is just mean to someone who obviously lacks social skills.
And this attitude is why we don't take Europeans seriously.
Quote from: Neil on May 19, 2011, 11:08:26 AM
Quote from: Malthus on May 19, 2011, 10:53:45 AM
I don't get it - he's obviously not being serious, why the kerfuffle? He just made a bunch of jokes that fell flat. So what.
It is an opportunity for a class of professional victims to revel in their victimhood, as well as a chance for those who get off on perceived moral superiority to condemn him and prove themselves worthy.
Only Neil and his anti-semitic European buddies would choose Hitler over the film industry.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.titanic-magazin.de%2Fuploads%2Fpics%2FVon-Trier_01.jpg&hash=391c041a65b42c494b4e5e6dafe916f1171c635a)
"Lars von Trier provokes with new movies!"
:lmfao:
Quote from: CountDeMoney on May 20, 2011, 05:25:06 AM
And this attitude is why we don't take Europeans seriously.
Have a complimentary basket of rolleyes.
:rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:
Quote from: Norgy on May 22, 2011, 01:13:53 PM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on May 20, 2011, 05:25:06 AM
And this attitude is why we don't take Europeans seriously.
Have a complimentary basket of rolleyes.
:rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:
And here's a complimentary bouquet of dead Jews:
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.elementalescapes.com%2Fimages%2Fholocaust_victims.gif&hash=b65ee6e086ca98be73072b51a83921d37b2858d9)
:(
Quote from: CountDeMoney on May 22, 2011, 01:47:18 PM
Quote from: Norgy on May 22, 2011, 01:13:53 PM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on May 20, 2011, 05:25:06 AM
And this attitude is why we don't take Europeans seriously.
Have a complimentary basket of rolleyes.
:rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:
And here's a complimentary bouquet of dead Jews:
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.elementalescapes.com%2Fimages%2Fholocaust_victims.gif&hash=b65ee6e086ca98be73072b51a83921d37b2858d9)
:wub:
Quote from: CountDeMoney on May 22, 2011, 01:47:18 PM
Quote from: Norgy on May 22, 2011, 01:13:53 PM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on May 20, 2011, 05:25:06 AM
And this attitude is why we don't take Europeans seriously.
Have a complimentary basket of rolleyes.
:rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:
And here's a complimentary bouquet of dead Jews:
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.elementalescapes.com%2Fimages%2Fholocaust_victims.gif&hash=b65ee6e086ca98be73072b51a83921d37b2858d9)
Ah, that's non-pc funny. :lmfao:
http://youtu.be/G_Hp3qB2F9Q <- Interview with Lars von WTF
What an awkward fucker.
What he tries to say is not something that can be made explicit in obvious terms. Those are usually the things that need to be said. Too bad if you don't understand, but no one gives a shit. It is good if the artist can make himself understood to also the stupid, but that is not always possible.
Quote from: Pat on May 24, 2011, 12:32:12 PM
What he tries to say is not something that can be made explicit in obvious terms. Those are usually the things that need to be said. Too bad if you don't understand, but no one gives a shit. It is good if the artist can make himself understood to also the stupid, but that is not always possible.
I'm sorry, I don't quite follow....
Maybe you could rephrase it as an analogy involving Nazis?
Have you not seen Riget? If you've seen it it should be perfectly obvious what he's saying.
Quote from: Pat on May 24, 2011, 01:23:29 PM
Have you not seen Riget? If you've seen it it should be perfectly obvious what he's saying.
I wasn't confused about von Trier, I was confused about your post :)
I thought my fault was in being too clear, if anything.
I'd be glad to expand on the point, but it's really said best by Oscar Wilde in his Soul of man under socialism (http://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/wilde-oscar/soul-man/index.htm). I'd quote passages to show what I mean but it's all relevant except for the beginning which is about socialism so just pick a spot and go from there.
Just when you think things couldn't get worst, now Iran defends the guy. He's fucked.
The funny part is that in that press conference he didn't really say anything that objectionable (certainly not something to declare him a pariah). He essentially said:
1. I thought I was a Jew, but I found out I'm a nazi because I have German ancestors. -> Provocative but not in any way objectionable - just reflective of how for a lot of people Germans = nazis.
2. I understand Hitler -> Again, only because Holocaust is a taboo, he is slammed for saying that. Understanding villains, psychologically, does not mean you are agreeing with them or excusing them.
Essentially, he is a victim of moral panic.
:lol:
Watch out, Marty. Someone will find out you're an anti-semite. :hmm:
Quote from: 11B4V on May 23, 2011, 04:31:38 AM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on May 22, 2011, 01:47:18 PM
Quote from: Norgy on May 22, 2011, 01:13:53 PM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on May 20, 2011, 05:25:06 AM
And this attitude is why we don't take Europeans seriously.
Have a complimentary basket of rolleyes.
:rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:
And here's a complimentary bouquet of dead Jews:
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.elementalescapes.com%2Fimages%2Fholocaust_victims.gif&hash=b65ee6e086ca98be73072b51a83921d37b2858d9)
Ah, that's non-pc funny. :lmfao:
Looks like you suffer from hebephrenia. You'd better go see Jacob for a proper diagnosis, however. :hmm:
Quote from: Slargos on May 28, 2011, 02:13:37 AM
:lol:
Watch out, Marty. Someone will find out you're an anti-semite. :hmm:
I don't know. I think as Holocaust survivors die out, we are seeing lately the dismantling of the "Holocaust taboo" - there are a lot more jokes etc. floating around the "mainstream culture" these days. I think it will happen in the next 10 years or so.
Like with the death of God or sexual propriety (as taboos), this of course makes people all excited (in both the positive and the negative way), as we are hardwired to react emotionally to "blasphemy".
The only sin von Trier commits, really, is not showing the expected reverence to the taboo. Had he phrased what he is saying differently, made a lot of "ohs" and "ahs", hushed his voice and spoke with a grave look on his face, there would be no scandal. So yeah, his sin is blasphemy. And I like blasphemers.
Quote from: Slargos on May 28, 2011, 02:13:37 AM
:lol:
Watch out, Marty. Someone will find out you're an anti-semite. :hmm:
Cocknibbler or not, he can't hide his Polackness.