‘Inglorious Basterds’ explained: Why did Quentin Tarantino insist on choking Diane Kruger?
Quentin Tarantino is not one to half-arse the process of filmmaking, with the director being so enamoured by the medium as a whole that it often completely absorbs him and each project he sets his mind to. Whether it be his sheer determination in making Reservoir Dogs or the attention to detail when recreating the look of 1960s Los Angeles in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, the director often takes an extreme approach when trying to perfect his vision, and occasionally at the expense of his actors.
Uma Thurman has famously worked with Quentin Tarantino on multiple projects, first in his knockout feature Pulp Fiction and then in Kill Bill, with Thurman starring as The Bride and playing a woman seeking revenge on her ex-boyfriend. While falsely described by many as his feminist masterpiece, this statement could not be further from the truth, especially given Thurman’s experiences on set and later comments about how she was treated during production.
After the release of Kill Bill, Thurman revealed she had been forced to perform unsafe stunts, resulting in a permanent injury. She spoke at length about the overall negative experience of working with the famed director and the unsafe conditions on set. Tarantino later responded, taking partial responsibility for the car crash that injured her but claiming he had not forced her into the stunt and that the actor had placed full trust in him.
But while some were quick to absolve Tarantino of any fault in the matter, the revelation that the director also spat on and choked Thurman while on set led to more speculation about the safety of the set and Tarantino’s treatment of women, despite the fact that many fans are still fast to defend him and excuse his behaviour under the bracket of ‘creative license’.
However, this incident was not the only time that something like this would happen, with Diane Kruger later sharing how when shooting Inglorious Basterds, Tarantino had insisted on choking her during the scene in which Christopher Waltz strangles her.
What happened during the production of Inglorious Basterds?
Kruger plays Bridget von Hammersmark in Tarantino’s 2009 film, which features an infamous death scene where Christoph Waltz’s character strangles her. However, when it came time to shoot the scene, Tarantino reportedly insisted on performing the act himself, claiming he was concerned it wouldn’t look convincing enough. In reality, there was no need for the director to carry out the stunt, especially when stunt coordinators are hired specifically to protect actors’ safety – no one should ever be genuinely harmed for the sake of a convincing shot.
When discussing the situation, Kruger said, “Quentin said, ‘He’s not going to do it right, it’ll either be too much or too little. I know exactly what I need and I think I should just do it,’” explained Kruger. “I have to say it was very strange being strangled by the director. For the record, however, I would like to say that my work experience with Quentin Tarantino was pure joy. He treated me with utter respect and never abused his power or forced me to do anything I wasn’t comfortable with”.
While Kruger might have had a positive time on set, she later extended her support towards Thurman when sharing her experiences, saying, “In light of the recent allegations made by Uma Thurman against Harvey Weinstein and her terrifying work experience on Kill Bill, my name has been mentioned in numerous articles in regards to the choking scene in Inglourious Basterds. This is an important moment in time and my heart goes out to Uma and anyone who has ever been the victim of sexual assault and abuse. I stand with you”.
Kruger might not have had the same experiences as Thurman, but this doesn’t negate her story, pointing towards the dangerous core of Tarantino’s methods and willingness to jeopardise the safety of his actors in order to achieve his vision. While he might claim to be a ‘feminist’, actions speak louder than words, and his behaviour raises questions about how seriously he upholds those values. In an industry where power is so often abused, it’s unfortunately not surprising.
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