In a feeble attempt to prove to the world that they are actually capable of kicking Nazis out of their country, the Cannes film festival has decided to ban Danish auteur Lars Von Trier for his controversial statements at Wednesday’s press conference. You know, 70 years after the fact. Too little, too late, guys.
To be fair, Von Trier was only giving the people what they want- controversy. It’s pretty clear from the above video that this isn’t a Mel Gibson style tirade (who, incidentally, the French paraded down the red carpet for The Beaver screening,) just one of the greatest comedic bombings of all time. This is the type of shit comedian Dane Cook Jr. Daniel Tosh gets away with every week on his show. If Von Trier had better timing and the French had a better sense of humor, this whole thing would have played like gangbusters. Gangbusters I tells ya!
Another country to add to the hypocrite list? Argentina. Argentinian company DC has refused to distribute Von Trier’s new film, Melancholia, due to the director’s choice of stand-up material. This, despite the fact that said country has been harboring the Führer and his boys from Brazil for over half a decade. Worst misdirection ever.
Fight the power!
So let’s cut Von Trier some slack. The poor little imp is obviously suffering from some sort of identity crisis. He doesn’t know whether he is a Nazi, a Jew, or a bad-ass gangster rapper (as evidenced by his new tattoo.) It doesn’t help that he is clinically depressed, and has to work out his problems on the world stage. And let’s be fair, Cannes- if Mel Gibson and Woody Allen’s daughter-marrying ass are any indication, you’ll be back in love with Von Trier this time next week.
