Rome, 20 May (LaPresse) – ‘Europe must never be subjugated to Trump.’ This was stated by director Pedro Almodóvar at a press conference in Cannes, where he presented his latest film “Amarga Navidad” (“Bitter Christmas”). Almodóvar, reports Variety, responded to a question about concerns regarding censorship, given the situation in the United States and the case of Canal+ in France, whose director has threatened to blacklist artists who signed an open letter against Vincent Bolloré, the broadcaster’s main shareholder. ‘I don’t want to judge anyone, but I believe artists must speak out about the situation they face in contemporary society. It is a moral duty,’ said the director. “Silence and fear are symptoms of a malaise. They are a serious sign of the collapse of democracy. On the contrary, creators must speak out. The worst thing that could happen would be to remain silent or be censored. We have a moral obligation to make our voices heard.” Almodóvar – who was wearing a pin bearing the words ‘Free Palestine’ – then expressed his disappointment at the lack of political stances taken during the latest Oscars ceremony. ‘I don’t want to blame anyone,’ he prefaced, ‘but it was surprising, watching the Oscars ceremony, to note the lack of protests against the war or against Trump. The only real example I can recall is that of a European, a friend of mine, Javier Bardem, who explicitly said: ‘Free Palestine’.’
Cannes, Almodóvar: ‘Europe must never be subjugated to Trump’
Rome, 20 May (LaPresse) – ‘Europe must never be subjugated to Trump.’ This was stated by director Pedro Almodóvar at a press conference in Cannes, where he presented his latest film “Amarga Navidad” (“Bitter Christmas”). Almodóvar, reports Variety, responded to a question about concerns regarding censorship, given the situation in the United States and the case of Canal+ in France, whose director has threatened to blacklist artists who signed an open letter against Vincent Bolloré, the broadcaster’s main shareholder. ‘I don’t want to judge anyone, but I believe artists must speak out about the situation they face in contemporary society. It is a moral duty,’ said the director. “Silence and fear are symptoms of a malaise. They are a serious sign of the collapse of democracy. On the contrary, creators must speak out. The worst thing that could happen would be to remain silent or be censored. We have a moral obligation to make our voices heard.” Almodóvar – who was wearing a pin bearing the words ‘Free Palestine’ – then expressed his disappointment at the lack of political stances taken during the latest Oscars ceremony. ‘I don’t want to blame anyone,’ he prefaced, ‘but it was surprising, watching the Oscars ceremony, to note the lack of protests against the war or against Trump. The only real example I can recall is that of a European, a friend of mine, Javier Bardem, who explicitly said: ‘Free Palestine’.’
