Italian filmmaker Luca Guadagnino criticized on Saturday the recent banning of his film “Queer” in Turkey, saying he was ready to fight “any institution wanting to tarnish the powers” of cinema, on the sidelines of the Marrakech film festival.
The Turkish authorities banned in early November a screening of his film “Queer” planned to open a film festival in Istanbul “on the grounds that it contained provocative content, likely to disturb public order,” according to the organizers who decided to cancel the event in protest.
“I wonder if they have seen the film or if they judge it on the broad outlines or on the facetious stupidity of certain journalists who focused on ‘James Bond becoming gay’, replied the Italian director to a question from AFP during a press conference of the jury of the Marrakech festival which he chairs. “It’s obtuse censorship, especially in this world where it is possible to download the film,” said the director of “Call me by your name” (2017).
Inspired by a novel of the same name by William S. Burroughs, “Queer” traces the adventures mixing sex, drugs and alcohol of an American (played by former agent 007 Daniel Craig) who falls in love with a young compatriot in the Post-war Mexico City.
“I really hope they believe that the (topic) of the film can lead to the collapse of society. Because it means that my belief in the power of cinema is true and that it is not delusional,” underlined the filmmaker, who says he wants to fight “against any institution that wants to tarnish the inevitable powers of cinema.”
From Patricia Arquette to Virginie Efira
The 21st edition of the Marrakech International Film Festival takes place from November 29 to December 7. The jury, chaired by Luca Guadagnino, notably includes the American actresses Patricia Arquette and French Virginie Efira, the Iranian director Ali Abbasi and the British actor Andrew Garfield.
