Well it was kind of bound to happen. After his outrageous outburst yesterday at the press conference for his new movie Melancholia, Lars Von Trier has been considered a “persona non grata” by the Cannes Film Festival organisers, literally an unwelcome person, and has been banned from the festival. Now this doesn’t mean his film is banned just him, but if his new movie happens to win a prize, say the Palme d’Or (which is a tad unlikely) or the directing or writing prizes, he will be unable to pick them up.
This all blew up yesterday when he shocked critics and his actorscomments like: “I’m a Nazi” and saying “I understand Hitler”. He was made to apologise but the board of directors have deemed it wholly unacceptable and banned him. Some websites see it as childish and stooping to his level.
I think it’s entirely justified though, he was a complete idiot and although he is a joker, he has to realize that he can’t get away with things like that in polite company… especially in France. Read the statement from the Cannes board of directors and watch Von Trier sink to new depths below.
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 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.
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. (Deadline)
