Oliver Stone is a filmmaker with a very distinct style and point of view. Over the decades, the filmmaker has never been one to shy away from controversial subject matter, whether it be political and/or violent. As we’ve seen in recent years, he’s also found himself the subject of unexpected controversy, specifically when it comes to defending violence in films and giving certain political figures a platform to spread their ideologies.
In an upcoming radio interview with BBC World Service’s “The Arts Hour” (via IndieWire), Stone talked about his own controversies, as well as recent issues relating to “cancel culture” and racism. And as you might expect, his opinions are never going to be simple and compliant.
One of the topics discussed is relating to the idea of HBO Max pulling “Gone with the Wind” from its service for a short time due to its racist depictions of certain characters. The filmmaker understands the decision but also is worried that we shouldn’t be quick to ban art.
“It’s very true that ‘Gone with the Wind’ is a very colored treatment of the South, but I think it’s a classic, it was my mother’s film of her generation,” the filmmaker said. “She loved it and it defined so many people, you can’t deny that. Certainly today, there possibly should be disclaimers put on or explanations to the audience — this represents a sweetened picture of the South. It does not deal with the issue of slavery in its worst form. It should not be removed from circulation though. I don’t believe so.”
Of course, HBO Max never completely banned the film, as “Gone With The Wind” was only removed from the streaming service for a short time before returning with the disclaimer and added contextual information. But that’s not the only topic of discussion in the upcoming interview.
As has always been the case with the filmmaker, Stone found himself in hot water over a project last year, when he sat down for an extended interview with Russian leader Vladimir Putin. At the time, people saw it as Stone offering Putin a platform to promote controversial opinions and stances, such as the country’s staunch anti-LGBTQ policies. Still, a year after its premiere, Stone defends the interview and thinks there’s just a general “misunderstanding” between what he was trying to accomplish with the discussion and what the American public feels he should have done.
“If I had treated him like ‘Why why why, why are you this, why are you that,’ those kind of questions don’t get anywhere and they become stilted, boring interviews where they’re trying to make the person they’re interviewing defensive,” Stone explained. “Doesn’t give anything. I learnt a lot more by letting them talk. … I took no editorial position. … I was trying to understand him, because America and Britain have made such a huge deal about how evil Russia is.”
He continued, “I think there has to be a complete restructuring of our understanding in order for our own health. I think this cold war is so ridiculous and unnecessary, especially in a time of planetary disorder like this.”
The full interview with Oliver Stone will air on “The Arts Hour” on July 25.