Watch Lars von Trier Say “I’m A Nazi” During The Infamous 2011 Cannes Press Conference [Flashback Friday]

Welcome to #FlashbackFriday, where we look at past moments with filmmakers, actors, etc. and highlight something in cinema history that’s fascinating, amusing, perhaps something you never knew or have seen, you name it.

You didn’t really think we could avoid Lars von Trier’s infamous Cannes press conference, did you?

For this week’s Flashback Friday, we take a trip back to 2011, which was a much simpler time for the filmmaker. Fresh off the premiere of his film “Melancholia,” von Trier was asked, in a subsequent Cannes press conference, a seemingly innocuous question – “Can you talk about your German roots and the gothic aspect of this film?”

And from there, history was made. The now infamous answer has von Trier go from describing how he always thought he was Jewish but then found out about his German roots when made him a Nazi (paraphrasing). He then attempts to backtrack, but every time you think he’s going to steer the answer back from the Nazi stuff, he just continues to say something even worse.

READ MORE: Nicolas Winding Refn Discusses Reviews Of ‘The Neon Demon’ In Classic Cannes Press Conference

Finally, he gives up, exclaiming (jokingly), “Okay, I’m a Nazi.”

If you’ve never seen the clip, it’s a must-see, even if you don’t find any humor in what von Trier attempts to say. It’s worth it just to watch actress Kirsten Dunst try her best to save the filmmaker from saying anything stupid (she was unsuccessful), and then proceed to look incredibly uncomfortable for the remainder of the answer.

As we know now, the fallout from the comment was severe. Von Trier was “banned” from Cannes, but the director was later reinstated this year for his newest project “The House That Jack Built.” And von Trier would have probably had to talk more about his Nazi comments if it wasn’t for the backlash he’s currently receiving for ‘Jack.’

READ MORE: Lars Von Trier’s ‘The House That Jack Built’ Is Repulsive, Toxic Trash [Cannes Review]

Ultimately, we can now see that this Nazi comment was unfortunate, but part of the director’s now-infamous track record of trolling journalists with outrageous answers. Even this week, von Trier was guilty of saying things that are ridiculous.

Until next week’s #FBF, enjoy!