Von Trier 'non grata' at Cannes

Von Trier attended the premiere with stars Gainsbourg (l) and Dunst (r) Related Stories Danish director Lars Von Trier has apologised for saying he was a Nazi and that Israel was "a pain" during a press conference at the Cannes Film Festival. "I am not anti-Semitic or racially prejudiced in any way, nor am I a Nazi," he said in a statement. The apology came ahead of the premiere of his new film Melancholia, screening in competition at this year's event. In an interview, its star Kirsten Dunst admitted Von Trier had "run his mouth" and had "dug himself in a deep hole". Von Trier's off-colour remarks, purportedly made in jest, were the talk of the festival on Wednesday and prompted an official rebuke from organisers. The director drew censure for suggesting that he "sympathised" with Adolf Hitler and for saying that while he was "not against Jews... Israel is a pain in the ass". The festival posted its own statement on its website, saying it had been "disturbed" by the 55-year-old's comments and had asked him to "provide an explanation". "The director states that he let himself be egged on by a provocation," the statement reads. "The direction of the festival acknowledges this and is passing on Lars Von Trier's apology. "The festival is adamant that it would never allow the event to become the forum for such pronouncements on such subjects." Von Trier and his stars were all smiles as they took to the red carpet on Wednesday at the official screening of Melancholia. It followed a press conference Dunst (r) was heard to call "intense" The mood was very different earlier, however, when the director's remarks were met by awkward, stony silences. Spider-Man actress Dunst was heard to describe the occasion as "intense" as she left the podium. A family drama that takes place in the shadow of an imminent apocalypse, Melancholia also stars the French actress Charlotte Gainsbourg and Britain's John Hurt. Some pundits have suggested the row might damage its chances of winning the Palme d'Or - an award its director received in 2000 for his musical Dancer in the Dark. Von Trier was last at Cannes in 2009 with Antichrist, a dark drama featuring graphic scenes of sex and violence which provoked a furore at that year's event. The director is well known for his impish humour, his fear of flying and his often combative relationship with members of the press. The festival continues on Thursday with the premiere of The Skin I Live In, the latest film from Spanish director Pedro Almodovar. British actor Malcolm McDowell is also in town to attend a special screening of A Clockwork Orange, the 1971 film he made with the late Stanley Kubrick.This article is from the BBC News website. � British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

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