Ken Loach supports Jonathan Glazer after Oscars speech: “I’ve got great respect for what he did”
After his acceptance speech at the Oscars placed Jonathan Glazer at the centre of some controversy, the iconic British director Ken Loach has come out to voice his support for the Zone of Interest director.
During his speech, given after winning the Academy Award for ‘Best International Film‘, Glazer lamented the “dehumanisation” occurring worldwide but placed a specific focus on the ongoing conflict in Gaza. “Right now,” he said, in reference to the actions of Israeli forces in Palestine, “We stand here as men who refute their Jewishness and the Holocaust being hijacked by an occupation which has led to conflict for so many innocent people.”
Glazer’s speech was responded to with thunderous applause and support at the Oscars. However, in the days that followed, the director received a great deal of criticism for his stance against dehumanisation. In fact, more than 1,000 Jewish individuals working in the film and entertainment industry signed an open letter to Glazer, criticising his speech and claiming that the speech was made to “fuel a growing anti-Jewish hatred around the world”.
In contrast, Glazer has also received vast support from people in the industry, most recently Ken Loach. In an interview with Variety, the legendary director spoke about Glazer’s speech, saying, “It was hugely valuable in that it shows that diversity. So I’ve got great respect for what he did.”
Loach also noted that, for all the criticism Glazer has received, there has been “lots of support from many, many Jewish people who said it breaks the stereotype that all Jewish people support what Israel is doing,” adding, “because clearly that’s not the case.”
Indeed, Glazer received support in the form of an open letter praising his speech, signed by the likes of Elliott Gould, Chloe Fineman, and Joaquin Phoenix, along with over 150 other prominent Jewish figures in the industry.
Of course, Loach himself has never been one to shy away from controversial topics. His incredible body of social realism films and documentaries has covered everything from the Irish Civil War to the plight of delivery drivers. His latest effort, The Old Oak, is said to be his last film, though the director seems regretful that he never placed a focus on Palestine. “That was a subject that I would have liked to have worked on,” he said, “but I didn’t know quite how to tackle it.”
Never Miss A Scene
The Far Out Film Newsletter
All the latest film news from the independent voice of culture.
Straight to your inbox.