Pedro Almodóvar criticises Oscars for lack of political protests against Donald Trump and the Iran War
Pedro Almodóvar has slammed those who appeared at this year’s Oscars for providing “not many protests against the war or against Trump.”
The director was speaking in a new interview with the LA Times, ahead of the premiere of his new film, Bitter Christmas, at the Cannes Film Festival. However, aside from that, he turned his attention to what he felt was a lack of political drive at the Oscars in March.
“You know, I’m not really blaming anyone in particular, but it was quite notable watching the Oscar telecast where there were not many protests against the war or against Trump,” he said.
Going on to praise one of the evening’s rare moments of outspokenness, Almodóvar added: “Maybe he wasn’t the only one, but the only real example I can remember came from a European, a friend of mine, Javier Bardem, who did directly say, ‘Free Palestine.’”
Bardem created one of the big talking points of the night when he made the statement, which he later justified in an interview last week when he said, “I have the right to denounce what I think is wrong.”
Despite this, Almodóvar said the reason he felt there was a lack of other political support at the March 15th ceremony was because, “People are obviously very frightened.”
He continued: “The US is not a democracy right now. Some people say it’s maybe an imperfect democracy, but I really don’t think the US is a democracy right now.”
The director added that the fact democracy has seemingly created the current “totalitarian regime” is “both a paradox and it’s also incredibly sad.”
Almodóvar has been a longtime critic of the Donald Trump administration, saying last year that the president would be remembered in history as a “catastrophe”.
However, in the latest interview, when asked if he fears that speaking out against this could harm his career, the filmmaker simply replied: “Not at all”.
Never Miss A Scene
The Far Out Film Newsletter
All the latest film news from the independent voice of culture.
Straight to your inbox.