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"Why take money from Israel" ?: A storm at Nadav Lapid's press conference in Cannes
Israeli director Nadav Lapid found himself under attack by the French-Jewish media in Cannes.
"I do not have to sing a song of praise to Israel because I received funding, and I am not responsible for global anti-Semitism," he replied.
"I am also not ready to participate in this game where I have to prove my love for the country"
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Cannes Film Festival
Nadav Lapid
Avner Shavit, Cannes
Thursday, 08 July 2021, 13:17 Updated: 13:34
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From the movie "The Knee" (United King Movies)
Nadav Lapid's "The Knee" became the Israeli film for a decade yesterday, screened as part of the official competition at the Cannes Film Festival. This class brings with it a variety of choppers, including a press conference celebrating the day after the screening with the participation of the international media, and this took place today (12:00 noon Israel time).
Lapid's film has won many accolades from critics and critics gathered in Cannes from around the world - both for its artistic quality and for its political statement. This is one of the most critical and poignant films made in Israel, probably in recent years.
The film is called by the knee of Ehad Tamimi, and the mention of the specific organ refers to the statement of Bezalel Smutrich, mentioned here in his name many times. At the time, the MK tweeted (and was therefore blocked from Twitter) that the Palestinian girl "had to snatch some bullet in the patella of the knee."
The protagonist of "The Knee", apparently Lapid's alter-ego, is a film director played by Avshalom Polak, who wants to direct a film about Tamimi, but finds himself in a hopeless struggle against internal and external censorship in Israel.
More on Walla!
Stormy in Cannes: Nadav Lapid's critical film wins applause, the team of "Let there be morning" boycott the festival in protest against Israel
To the full article
"Knee" director Nadav Lapid with movie star Nur Pivak (Photo: Walla !, Avner Shavit)
During the press conference, a small confrontation took place between Lapid and one of the journalists - a French-Jewish journalist from Cnews, a controversial French network known for its far-right views. "If the film criticizes Israel and its freedom of expression, how is it that the logo of your Ministry of Culture appears at first?" He asked. "Did I understand something wrong, or did you receive money from Israel?", Referring to the fact that "The Knee" is an international co-production, which produced French, German and Israeli money.
"I'm trying to figure out if this is an informative question or are you trying to imply that if you get funding from the state, you should not criticize it," Lapid responded. "If I receive funding from Israel, then should I sing songs of praise to her? These are perceptions that are appropriate for fascist countries."
"You are a world-renowned director, and European countries are also involved in the production of the film. You could have been content with that, could you not?", The French journalist added.
"I am Israeli, why should I not ask for money from Israel? We shot the film in 18 days. I would also take free bread from the writer if they offered me," concluded Lapid, who seemed agitated by the situation and exhausted by the infinity of political difficulties.
In response to my question about the fact that the film has a lot of criticism of Israel but also a lot of love and affection for it, Lapid replied - "I categorically refuse to participate in this game, where you have to prove that you love Israel," he says.
"I have seen quite a few artists apologize and try to explain that they are the best ambassadors of their country. I am not Israel's ambassador and I do not want to be like that. If I had become ambassador, I would have been a bad ambassador."
"Knee" director Nadav Lapid with star Nur Pivek and movie star Avshalom Polak in Cannes (Photo: Walla !, Avner Shavit)
"I do not know if it is a film about love, it is a film about intimacy with the country. It is not something that was necessarily prominent in the script," Lapid added. "When I saw the end result on screen I was surprised at how much intimacy there is in it. In the script I had no desire to be ambivalent, I wanted the protagonists to express opposition to the country, but the opposition dried up behind me. It probably expresses my strong connection to this place. It's a sick place, but it's my company "There are no survivors from this place, and neither do I. I am in no way better than any other Israeli I talk about, so I allow myself to be critical."
However, Lapid recently moved to Paris, along with his partner Naama Price, who also appears in the film, and their son Noah. "I wanted my son to know that there are more countries in the world, and to taste a little of the beauty of France and make decisions for himself," he explained in response to a question from Haaretz journalist Nirit Anderman. "I also wanted some rest from my ambivalent attitude towards the country. That I would just see the sun, not the Israeli sun. In any case, I am not a political exile and my transition is not some brave political step."
Lapid was asked by a French-Jewish journalist whether the film might provoke anti-Semitism. "I can not be held responsible for global anti-Semitism," he replied. "I hope no idiot does anything following the film, nor do I think it will happen. There is some Israeli desire for the world to understand us, for the world to see things from our point of view, and we are always shocked when it does not happen. There is something pathetic about it, but also something. Beautiful".
Much more is heard about him.
From "The Knee" (Photo: Shai Goldman)
In conclusion, Lapid was asked by Amir Kaminer of Yedioth Ahronoth that the Palestinian team of "Vihi Boker", a film by Eran Kolirin that will be screened here on Saturday, announced that the festival will be boycotted in protest of the Israeli government's policy.
"Eran my good friend, we would play basketball together," the director said.
"But I have enough matters of my own, so I'll leave him the right to comment on the matter."
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