The new film by “The Artist” director Hazanavicius is no longer called “Z”. The reason is the war in Ukraine. The “Z” has become a symbol of support for the Russian war of aggression.
The Cannes Film Festival is scheduled to open in mid-May this year with a zombie comedy by Frenchman Michel Hazanavicius (“The Artist”).
However, because of the war in Ukraine, the film now has a different title than originally planned. After complaints from Ukraine, Hazanavicius (55) agreed to rename “Z (comme Z)” to “Coupez!”.
“Coupez” means something like “cut / cut” and alludes to both the film craft and the vampirism from the film. Reminiscent of the mark on Russian tanks, the “Z” has become a symbol of support for Russia’s war of aggression in the international community over the past two months.
The Cannes festival supports the decision to change the film’s French title, the festival in the southern French coastal city announced on Monday evening.
“Since the letter ‘Z’ acquired a martial meaning with the Russian government’s war of aggression against Ukraine, there can be no such confusion or ambiguity,” the statement said. The international title remains: “Final Cut”. With the decision, the director, producers and distributors of the film, the festival and all French cinema expressed their solidarity “with the suffering Ukrainian people” and reaffirmed their opposition to Russia’s invasion.
The Cannes Festival, which celebrates its 75th anniversary this year, takes place from May 17th to 28th. Alongside Venice and the Berlinale, it is the most important film festival in the world.
Volodymyr Sheiko, conductor and general director of the Ukrainian Institute, an institution comparable to the German Goethe Institute, wrote to the Cannes Festival. The American industry magazine “Variety” published this letter a few days ago. It said: “If the title of the opening film were changed, it would be a gesture against the barbarism, violence and terror of the Russian army.”
Source: Stern
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