Wim Wenders says cinema is, after all, deeply political

Wim Wenders has revised his much-criticized position on cinema and politics, saying in Venice that his earlier comments were misunderstood. The German filmmaker had caused consternation at the Berlin Film Festival in February after saying his art should “stay outside politics.”

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What I said is that as filmmakers, we are the opposite of politicians. We have empathy. Political leaders work without empathy.

Speaking at the Venice festival, where he presented a documentary about Swiss architect Peter Zumthor, the 81-year-old director said filmmakers and politicians work from fundamentally different places. “What I said is that as filmmakers, we are the opposite of politicians. We have empathy. Political leaders work without empathy,” he said.

Wenders said he was not arguing that cinema should withdraw from political questions. Instead, he described film as an “antidote” to politics. “We do not work with the mentality of politicians, we work with the mentality of empathetic people. And we seek to change things,” he said, adding that he hoped his remarks would not be distorted into the claim that filmmakers should remain outside politics.

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We do not work with the mentality of politicians, we work with the mentality of empathetic people. And we seek to change things. I repeat this and hope you will not distort my words by saying that we must stay outside politics, because it is precisely the opposite. We are its antidote.

The issue also surfaced at the opening press conference in Venice. Jury president Maggie Gyllenhaal said films were “fundamentally and incontestably political.” The Gaza war has fueled debate at several European film festivals, where actors’ and directors’ groups have urged organizers to take a clear position in favor of Palestine.

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Fundamentally and incontestably political

Venice artistic director Alberto Barbera told AFP that it was essential to discuss events in Gaza and the Middle East. He said at least four films at the festival address the Palestinian question and the current situation in Iran, leaving no doubt about the festival’s position.

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There are at least four films that address the Palestinian question and the current situation in Iran, and there can therefore be no doubt about our position on this subject.