MovieChat Forums > Mies vailla menneisyyttä (2002) Discussion > Kaurismäki boycotting Oscar gala

Kaurismäki boycotting Oscar gala

posted 21 years ago by skrzkrk
9 replies | jump to latest

Aki Kaurismäki and the "Sputnik" production company boycotted the 2003 Academy Awards because of the USA's raid on Iraq.

Read the story from your favourite news provider, but please note, that in addition to what at least the Washington Post and USATODAY.com chose to print (propably just what AP chose to wire), Kaurismäki hopes the decision not to participate won't be seen as a gesture against the Academy or the citizens of the USA. He also said "Film should live -- but that possibility should be given to the Iraqi civilians; the children, women and men." (Sources: Helsingin Sanomat, M&M)

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The road to hell is paved with good quotations.

[–] Ostrobothniaman 21 years ago

Was the war in Iraq really the reason? I heard that he boycotted the whole thing because U.S. officials wouldn't let a good director friend of his from Iran into the country.

[–] Hezu 21 years ago

Abbas Kiarostami's US visa denial was Kaurismäki's reason to skip the NY Film Festival visit.

[–] johanna0105 21 years ago

Maybe he's trying a Lars Von Trier style.

[–] J_J_Gittes 21 years ago

"Maybe he's trying a Lars Von Trier style."

THAT would be the LAAAAAAAAST thing, Kaurismäki would do! Believe me.

[–] el_puma 20 years ago

Please no, Kaurismaki is much better than Lars Von Trier.

[–] axel-50 20 years ago

aki had two reasons to boycot the oscar gala. one reason was that a movie was
disquallyfied because the director was palestinian. second reason was the iraq war

[–] mac_alain 15 years ago

one reason was that a movie was disqualified because the director was Palestinian. second reason was the Iraq war

Both good enough reasons from where I am sitting.

[–] Truman_Galapagos 14 years ago

I support his decision.

[–] 14 years ago

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