Danish filmmaker Lars von Trier has been a mainstay at the Cannes Film Festival, dating back to 1984, when “Forbrydelsens element” was nominated for the Palme d’Or. All told, the writer-director has been nominated for the Palme d’Or a total of nine times, winning once for 2000’s “Dancer in the Dark.” However, in 2011, after some, let’s just say regrettable, remarks about Hitler, the prestigious event banned the filmmaker.
Now, after seven years, it looks like we might see the filmmaker’s return to Cannes. Maybe.
There are multiple rumors floating around right now talking about von Trier’s upcoming film, “The House that Jack Built.” First, you have a report on The Hollywood Reporter that just says that the film wasn’t included in the upcoming festival’s initial lineup, but when asked if the film could be a late addition, Cannes director Thierry Fremaux said, “We’ll know in a couple of weeks, I hope so.” It’s clear that Fremaux would like the latest von Trier project to be shown at the festival.
The film, which is said to be about a serial killer in the ‘70s and ‘80s, is being described by insiders in the THR report as having “scenes of extreme brutality and violence, comparing it to von Trier’s graphic, controversial Antichrist, starring Charlotte Gainsbourg and Willem Dafoe.”
This goes against what is being rumored that “The House that Jack Built” was actually offered a spot at Cannes, specifically an out-of-competition slot, but von Trier refused because he wanted to be in-competition. These reports and rumors are compounded by the fact that Lars von Trier has, himself, been a controversial figure recently, which is reportedly leaving the Cannes decision-makers torn on his involvement. So, even if Thierry Fremaux would like the film to premiere at the festival, there are others, including von Trier himself, who might be having second thoughts.
As mentioned above, everyone already knows that von Trier was banned from Cannes in 2011, when he made comments about Hitler that were sympathetic, even though Fremaux has previously said von Trier would be welcomed back. There is also a report from late last year where the star of “Dancer in the Dark,” Bjork, came out saying that she was sexually harassed by the Danish filmmaker. So, while “The House that Jack Built” might be a controversial film by itself, the addition of von Trier’s name makes it even more debated.
Hopefully, soon, we’ll hear the final word on when the world will get to see the latest from Lars von Trier.