Watch Out, Galliano! There's a New Hitler Lover In Town!

By Michael Musto Thu., May 19 2011 at 11:55 AM

Categories: Film

For some reason, creative visionaries have felt emboldened to spill their deep, dark admiration for Adolf Hitler in public lately.

First, designer John Galliano was ruined for screaming such thoughts at someone he felt deserved to be in an oven.

And now, filmmaker Lars von Trier has been banned from the Cannes Film Festival for giving a long spiel at a press conference -- satirical, one hopes -- in which he said Hitler's "not what I would call a good guy, but I understand much about him and I sympathize with him a little."

This while his film's star, Kirsten Dunst, rolled her eyes as if she saw her career spiraling into the flames of horror.

Well, von Trier is a provocateur who has always enjoyed upsetting people, from his film that mixed snippets of The Sound of Music with a scene of capital punishment, to the wacky comedy with tons of genital mutilation -- and I adored both of them, by the way.

But clearly he's overstepped the line this time.

Or is it the festival organizers themselves who are the Nazis?

As someone pointed out, they had no problem parading Mel Gibson on a runway despite his highly unaesthetic and vocal racist and anti-Semitic rants.

Von Trier's film, by the way, is called Melancholia. Discuss.

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Adriana Ospina

with the festival organizers!

latenitebump

would the same have happened if he said something against gays?

Melinda9

I find his films bizarre but not in a good way. Unwatchable kind of. Not a great career move for KDunst. But maybe she didn't have other options.

frankie

the festival banned him, but, really, where's the "punishment?" the film is still in competition, so, in theory, it could still win the coveted palme d'or. if a message really wanted to be sent that his behavior and comments weren't acceptable, ban the whole thing. there's a message!

Sophia

It seems people are treating the media as a drug. The next dose needs to stronger than the last until it spirals out of control. These types of ideas/statements bypass logic and go straight to our emotions. Anger, hate, disgust bubble to the surface and is regurgitated all over the internet. I admit these headlines grab my attention too but I also respond to information that is truly unique, interesting, heartfelt or new and improved. It is like technology. I could still use a typewriter but it is not practical. Are you really that ground breaking or creative if you depend on the easiest trick in the book?

Redhead

Are you out of your mind! It was to draw attention to a guy who made a joke about liking Hitler. What kind of headline would you recommend?

Sophia

I was not talking about this article's headline but referring to the media in general. I disagreed with Lars method to grab attention with a controversial and sensitive topic. He should have just focused on his work.

Mariana

Watch Out, Cannes! There's a new superficial journalist in town!

Darr

If it's a good movie, all will be forgotten.

Devoe

PS: Things always happen in twos lately. There were also two stories of inappropriate sex with maids/housekeepers. But I think von trier's remarks were satirical whereas Galliano's came from real hate.