We still have some time left at the Cannes Film Festival, before Terry Gilliam’s “The Man Who Killed Don Quixote” closes the event later this week. However, one of the biggest stories of the festival, so far, is the audience reaction to Lars von Trier’s latest film, “The House That Jack Built.” To say that people were disgusted by the film is a gross understatement. And that says a lot, coming from a director who has been known to garner some pretty incredible visceral reactions from crowds.
READ MORE: Lars Von Trier’s ‘House That Jack Built’ Reactions: Disgust, Loathing & Walkouts
However, perhaps perfectly timed, an interview with von Trier was published by University Post, and in it, the filmmaker discusses provoking an audience, wanting people to hate his work, and why censorship, in all forms, is horrible. In other words, it’s like a preemptive reply to everyone who saw “The House That Jack Built.”
“Making films is bothersome to me. The last one we made was especially hard because it was filled with angst. But no matter how bad it got, I was always able to crawl out of whatever depression I was suffering from to tell the actors what to do,” admits von Trier.
His early sentiments about filmmaking, and producing ‘Jack’ in particular, have been the same for months now. Von Trier has gone on record numerous times talking about how difficult it was to make ‘Jack’ and how it had a profound impact on his life. But that being said, he is perfectly okay with how the film turned out, and he welcomes the blowback.
“Somebody has to hate the movie. That’s important,” says von Trier.
READ MORE: Lars Von Trier’s ‘The House That Jack Built’ Is Repulsive, Toxic Trash [Cannes Review]
Regardless of the acting abilities of the cast, the filmmaking fundamentals, or the plot of the movie, the primary reason for the walkouts and the harsh criticisms of his latest project come from the graphic depictions of violence. Many say that this time von Trier went too far. For the filmmaker, he thinks that there’s no reason he should ever have to censor himself.
When asked why he thinks American critics, in particular, don’t enjoy his use of nudity and sexual content, von Trier isn’t sure:
“I couldn’t tell you. But, when it comes to nudity, you need to remember that, when I was a kid, my family went to nudist camps. We spent the summers at nudist camps. When we there, if we were at our place, and it was cold, you put a sweater on. But, if someone came to visit, you took it off again right away. So, I’m pretty open to nudity. I’m against censorship of any kind. My opinion is that if you can think it, you should be able to show it.”
The director was then asked if he purposefully uses nudity and extreme content to provoke an audience. Von Trier completely denies the tactic, saying, “No. ‘Nymphomaniac’ was five hours, wasn’t it? That’s an awfully long-wound provocation. I’ve always been accused of provoking for the sake of provoking…”
The interviewer suggests that perhaps there’s a difference between European culture and American culture and asks von Trier which he is more closely connected to. The director answers, but then gives an example of how his sensibilities don’t line up with American values, even with his own film inspirations:
“I’m much more deeply rooted in European culture. But a lot of my favorite films are American. Orson Welles’s films for example. And Scorsese’s, especially his early ones. And Coppola. And … not so much Spielberg, his films just don’t do it for me. But someone told me yesterday, and I don’t know if it’s true, but when I made ‘Breaking the Waves’ it was really popular with the jury. Except Coppola, who was foreman. He called it ‘the world’s ugliest movie.’ And that was why he didn’t want it to get an award. Funny. In that situation you’d think he’d have been more foresighted because he has always done drastic things.”
The whole exchange about censorship, provocation, and his thoughts on the harsh criticisms his films get can be summed up by his thoughts on Coppola’s negative reaction to “Breaking the Waves. “It pleases me that he took enough interest to call it the world’s ugliest movie,” admits von Trier.
That says it all, doesn’t it? Makes you think that the backlash that “The House That Jack Built” isn’t as bothersome to the filmmaker as many are hoping.