Top German director: No reason to boycott Israeli cinema
Wim Wenders, who directed Buena Vista Social Club, makes comments at press conference in Jerusalem.
By City Mouse Online and Oron Shamir Tags: Israel newsWorld renowned German film director Wim Wenders said in Jerusalem on Monday that there was no need to boycott the Israel film industry, since all such moves inevitably backfire.
Wenders, who has directed dozens of internationally acclaimed films, including "Paris, Texas" and "Buena Vista Social Club," arrived on Sunday as the guest of honor for the 20th anniversary of the Sam Spiegel Israeli film Academy.
During a press conference, the director said Israel has exported some excellent films over the past few years, and that European groups should focus on screening Israeli movies, not boycotting the country's film industry.
He cited the example of Cuba as an example of why all boycotts eventually yield the opposite of the intended result. International boycott secured Castro's ruling for 20 years, Wenders said, adding that he supports a boycott of boycotters.
When asked about fellow director Ken Loach's anti-Israel comments, Wenders said he thinks Loach is a strange man and cannot be taken seriously.
Wenders said that he can't treat Israel as a whole entity, just as he finds it difficult to say that he likes America as a whole. Israel is one of the most complex places in the world, he said.
The director also made special reference to the recent Israeli films "Waltz with Bashir" and "Ajami," and their directors Ari Folman, Scandar Copti, and Yaron Shani as examples of exceptional cinematic work coming out of Israel.
|
Director Wim Wenders arrives in Israel as guest of honor at Sam Spiegel film Academy. Getty Images |
Why Facebook Connect?
Comment on Haaretz.com articles with your Facebook login, and share your thoughts on your own wall.
- Latest
- Most Viewed
- Most Rated
- Open all
first of all, sanctions are not boycotts. Sanctions are a diplomatic tool used by governments against other governments. Boycotts are lead by ideological driven groups of people or parties. SECONDLY - Iran is an authoritarian theocracy ruled by a religous elite. Their cinema is NOT independent, but rather is screened and regularly censored. Israel's cinema (and media and society in general) is free and unfettered, since israel is a full democracy. Consequently, you will have Israeli films discussing topics such as war, gay culture, religion, ethnic strife, etc- you will NEVER see this in Iran or any other Arab/Muslim country for that matter. Those countries do not yet possess the open mindedness that is found in liberal democracies like Israel!
It's Ahmadinejad that should be boycott because he has declared that Israel should be destroyed.
education & research
It was just yesterday that all sorts of talkbackers said the world is now ignoring Israel. We're goners. We're 4th rate. Nobody takes us seriously any more. And this guy has the audacity to say that Ken Loach is a strange man and cannot be taken seriously? Crikey! Wenders should read some of the talkbackers like Dutch and Maureen Ann and Durson and Clickfool if he wants strange people who cannot be taken seriously!
If you are opposed so fiercly to boycotts - where is your voice whenever iranian athletes pull out of competitions all over the world to avoid facing israelis?
"Dear Israeli`s if you dont like boycotts then why do you encourage sanctions on Iran???????????" Dear Dino, if you sign a contract and remain in breach of that contract for 8 years, you believe there shouldn't be any consequences? Or do you just encourage sanctions against Israel in a disproportionate manner? The sanctions against Iran are to bring it back into compliance with the international treaty it signed. What is boycotting Israeli films supposed to achieve, other than demonstrating mindless anti-Israeli and anti-Semitic vitriol?
Dear Israeli's if you dont like boycotts then why do you encourage sanctions on Iran???????????
This man speaks a true word. Sadly not everyone & certainly not everywhere one finds this attitude. Way too often people are too fast, too harsh with their comments & gestures. Like shooting from ones hip a' la John Wayne. Thanks Mr. Wenders.
And he makes good movies too.