Lars von Trier on his controversial Cannes return
Posted May 16, 2018 7:00 am
CANNES, France (AP) - After being banished for seven years, Lars von Trier has not come back to the Cannes Film Festival brimming with remorse.
Instead, he has detonated "The House That Jack Built," a 2ˆ½-hour serial killer drama nasty enough to spark dozens of walkouts at its premiere.
Some critics called it a quintessential von Trier film about the nature of art and the reaches of empathy. Others called the film that features scenes of child murder, female mutilation and piles of frozen corpses "repulsive" and "irredeemably unpleasant."
In an interview, the Danish provocateur questioned why he is the only one to be declared "persona non grata" at Cannes. He noted the same term wasn't leveled on Harvey Weinstein.
Director Lars von Trier poses for photographers during a photo call for the film 'The House That Jack Built' at the 71st international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Monday, May 14, 2018. (Photo by Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP)
The Associated Press
Director Lars von Trier, left, and actor Matt Dillon pose for photographers upon arrival at the premiere of the film 'The House That Jack Built' at the 71st international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Monday, May 14, 2018. (Photo by Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP)
The Associated Press
Director Lars von Trier, left, and actor Matt Dillon pose for portrait photographs for the film 'The House That Jack Built', at the 71st international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Wednesday, May 16, 2018. (Photo by Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP)
The Associated Press
Actress Sofie Grabol, from left, actor Bruno Ganz, director Lars von Trier, actor Matt Dillon, and actress Siobhan Fallon Hogan pose for photographers upon arrival at the premiere of the film 'The House That Jack Built' at the 71st international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Monday, May 14, 2018. (Photo by Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP)
The Associated Press
Actresses Siobhan Fallon Hogan, from left, Sofie Grabol, director Lars von Trier and actor Matt Dillon pose for photographers during a photo call for the film 'The House That Jack Built' at the 71st international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Monday, May 14, 2018. (Photo by Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP)
The Associated Press
Actress Sofie Grabol, from left, director Lars von Trier and actress Siobhan Fallon Hogan pose for photographers during a photo call for the film 'The House That Jack Built' at the 71st international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Monday, May 14, 2018. (Photo by Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP)
The Associated Press
Actor Matt Dillon, left, and director Lars von Trier pose for portrait photographs for the film 'The House That Jack Built', at the 71st international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Wednesday, May 16, 2018. (Photo by Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP)
The Associated Press
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