Lars von Trier Accepts Ban; Says if Hitler 'Made a Great Film,' Cannes Should Select It (Cannes 2011)

Danish director Lars von Trier has once again proven he can still put the terrible in enfant terrible. At Wednesday's press conference following the first screening of his new film Melancholia, his comments about being a Nazi and "sympathizing" with Hitler went too far even for the legendarily tolerant Cannes Festival, which took the highly unusual step of declaring von Trier a persona non grata, banning him from the Palais and putting a
permanent black mark on von Trier and his new film. The Hollywood Reporter's German Bureau Chief Scott Roxborough spoke to von Trier shortly after the Festival announced the ban.