Melancholia (Lars von Trier, 2011)

[Finch]

Slant's take on Melancholia

[Alan Smithee]

Looks like Von Trier has successfully given Melancholia a ton of press as he always accomplishes with his press conferences. Have to kind of feel bad for him. He released apology. You know he's embarrassed if he did that.

Anyways. After reading Bradshaws review I was a little deflated but the opinions seem to mostly be swaying towards saying it's good. I tuned out on Bradshaw when he said Dunst joins Kidman and Bryce Dallas Howard in sleepwalking through a Von Trier production. No woman has ever sleepwalked through a Von Trier. I think Dogville especially is one of Kidman's best performances.

[Duncan Hopper]

Don't forget, Bradshaw gave 'Tamara Drewe' a glowing four-star review. It may have been down to nepotism, but either way, I don't take his reviews too seriously.

[Zot!]

What is Trier's beef with Bier?

[knives]

She's a terrible director who stole Jensen from him?

[mfunk9786]

Hearing whispers on Twitter that the U.S. release date might be pushed up to early July thanks to the reception and press at Cannes.

[Nothing]

Hmm... Hoberman has a unique take:

the first five minutes of Melancholia are more innovative, accomplished, and visionary than anything in The Tree of Life

[mfunk9786]

Sounds like a shock statement to me, and I don't really have a dog in either fight

[jsteffe]

It was fascinating and excruciating to watch the Melancholia press conference. Here's my take, for whatever it is worth (or not). I don't think it's only that Trier craves attention like a child and and hence resorts to provocations. In a way, Trier has a disarming personality and I can see why actors would want to work with him, even when he does and says really annoying things. I think he has a deep, underlying vulnerability that encourages actors to really let themselves go on camera. Part of his shtick is to embarrass people around him--notice his various teasing comments about all the actors--but I would say he is primarily driven to humiliate himself. What I found so fascinating was how it seemed he couldn't even help himself. When the journalist made that inane remark about Nazi aesthetics, it was as if he became fixated on the Nazi part and was compelled to say something. Yet even as he knew he was digging himself into a hole, he couldn't stop digging. I feel awful for him because he appears to have a self-destructive personality. At the same time, he doesn't seem to have the hatred and violence of someone like Mel Gibson. I hope this fiasco doesn't ruin the distribution for Melancholia or the financing for his next film. (For the record I think he's an uneven director, but his best work can be brilliant.)

[Tom Hagen]

I finally watched the video. Kirsten Dunst gives the performance of her career sitting next to him through this!

[ambrose]

The near total absence of a social filter as regards Von Trier's public pronouncements is somewhat suggestive of Asperger syndrome!

People with AS often have a limited range of intonation: speech may be unusually fast, jerky or loud. Speech may convey a sense of incoherence; the conversational style often includes monologues about topics that bore the listener, fails to provide context for comments, or fails to suppress internal thoughts. Individuals with AS may fail to monitor whether the listener is interested or engaged in the conversation. The speaker's conclusion or point may never be made, and attempts by the listener to elaborate on the speech's content or logic, or to shift to related topics, are often unsuccessful.

[Finch]

Associated Press is reporting that the festival has banned Lars von Trier. Further details yet to emerge.

edit: Statement from the festival:

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.

[domino harvey]

Has the Cannes film festival seen some of the shit they program? Jesus Christ, what a bunch of babies

[Finch]

They certainly seem to mean business: Charlotte Higgins from the Guardian is tweeting that interviews with Charlotte Gainsbourg are being cancelled as well. Presumably, the jury will have been told to disregard Melancholia from now on.

[Duncan Hopper]

I wonder if he now regrets using the Prelude from Wagner's Tristan and Isolde as a reoccurring main theme in Melancholia?

[Finch]

What I don't understand is how the reaction is so visceral when all he said was that he merely understood Hitler (and then in jest only) which is not the same as endorsing his ideology. Amazing how that seems to have gone over everybody's heads. Hypocritical too to let Mel Gibson walk on the red carpet when, unlike Von Trier, the man is a genuine antisemitist and misogynist (Jodie Foster can protest all she likes).

[mfunk9786]

=; He should be glad to be rid of those pretentious douchebags. Opens things up for Code Blue to win, right??

[aox]

How can they do this to the "greatest director in the world". They are just shooting themselves in the foot. [-(

[kaujot]

Hey, at least now we'll get to see the spectacle of von Trier trying to force his way into Cannes the next time he makes a film.

[lubitsch]

What I don't understand is how the reaction is so visceral when all he said was that he merely understood Hitler (and then in jest only) which is not the same as endorsing his ideology. Amazing how that seems to have gone over everybody's heads.

You seem to have missed the part with the "final solution". Is it really so surprising to the forum members that a few people are slightly disturbed by this lunatic and the recognition he gets? I'd also rather disagree with those who want to to divide the man and his work apart. Both are deeply driven by a desire to attract attention at any cost. From starting Dogma to all outlandish film tricks and stories available on the one hand to declaring himself depressive and finished and now releasing the newest bright comments on the other side, it all - films and man - plays as a one note cry: Notice what I'm doing. ... very often at the cost of any artistic achievement.
I always find it disappointing when the loudest PR men for their work like Griffith or Trier get all the recognition which should have been distributed a bit more evenhandedly.

[Flike]

After watching the video, how Cannes and also the general public seem to be reacting to his statements is just otherworldly to me.

[willoneill]

I just hope they put "from director Lars von Trier, Persona Non Grata, Cannes Film Festival" on the poster.

[mfunk9786]

von Trier says he's never leaving Denmark again

[Finch]

From Reuters:

A spokeswoman for Cannes said she did not know whether such an expulsion had occurred before or if Von Trier would be allowed back to the festival in the future. She added that Melancholia would remain in competition despite its director's expulsion.

von Trier's reaction to the ban in a Danish newspaper:

I'm proud to have been declared persona non grata. This is maybe the first time in film history that has happened. I think one of the reasons is that the French themselves treated the Jews badly during the second world war. Therefore it is a touchy subject for them. I highly respect the Cannes festival, but I also understand that they are very angry with me right now. I'm no Mel Gibson, but once again I would like to say sorry everybody.

[aox]

I'm no Mel Gibson

I love this man more and more every time he opens his mouth. That's A+ Trolling!