Wim Wenders defends himself after Berlinale controversy

Wim Wenders has defended his controversial remarks at the Berlinale, saying they were misquoted and rejecting the charge that he advocates an apolitical stance.

Speaking at the Venice Film Festival, the 81-year-old director said filmmakers and politicians approach the world differently. “We filmmakers are the opposite of politicians. We have empathy. Politics works without empathy, and that is all I said. We pursue a completely different approach.”

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We filmmakers are the opposite of politicians. We have empathy. Politics works without empathy, and that is all I said. We pursue a completely different approach.

Wenders had caused a major controversy at the Berlinale during a jury press conference, when he responded to a question about the Gaza war. He said filmmakers should not move into the field of politics and described cinema as a counterweight to political work.

The remarks were shortened on social media, triggering political debates about the Gaza war and the political stance of filmmakers. The dispute continued through the Berlinale and led to an open letter, boycott calls, protests and statements.

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We work with the mindset of empathetic people. And we want to change things.

In Venice, Wenders insisted that the shortened quotation did not reflect his meaning. “We work with the mindset of empathetic people. And we want to change things.” He added that filmmakers should not follow politicians’ way of thinking and said, “We are the antidote.”

Wenders is presenting “From Inside Out: The Architecture of Peter Zumthor,” a 3D documentary about the Swiss architect and his celebrated buildings, including the Therme Vals.

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We are the antidote.