After Moscow festival, Woody Allen comments on Putin
Woody Allen (photo: Getty Images)
American filmmaker Woody Allen commented on Ukraine's reaction to his participation in the Moscow International Film Week in an interview with The Guardian.
How Woody Allen explained his participation
After Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs sharply condemned his move, calling it a "shame and insult" to Ukrainian artists killed by Russian occupiers, Allen decided to explain.
In his statement, the director made it clear that, despite condemning the war in Ukraine, he does not consider it right to sever cultural ties completely.
"When it comes to the conflict in Ukraine, I believe strongly that Vladimir Putin is totally in the wrong. The war he has caused is appalling. But, whatever politicians have done, I don't feel cutting off artistic conversations is ever a good way to help," the director said.
Woody Allen (photo: Getty Images)
He also noted that he has no plans to make films in Russia but spoke warmly about the cities of Moscow and St. Petersburg.
Additionally, Allen admitted that he still admires Russian cinema, particularly Sergei Bondarchuk's film "War and Peace," which won an Oscar in 1969.
It is worth reminding that Woody Allen's reputation in the US has long been seriously damaged.
This is due to numerous sexual scandals, including allegations of harassment and a relationship with his adopted daughter, which led to his effective isolation in Hollywood.
However, recently, the director has again become the center of public outrage, this time among Ukrainians.
Allen had planned to appear on the red carpet of the Moscow film festival, despite the full-scale war Russia is waging against Ukraine.
Woody Allen at the festival in Russia (photo: x.com/United24media)
However, he did not travel to the capital of the aggressor country but still participated, joining the event online and speaking to the Russian audience.
For this, he was added to the Myrotvorets database.
The Myrotvorets website notes that the director "deliberately took part in Russian propaganda during the Russian-Ukrainian war and the murders of Ukrainian citizens," and publicly supported Russian aggression.
Woody Allen in Myrotvorets (screenshot)
