Javier Bardem says the “whole host of offers” of work he has received recently are evidence that what he described as the Hollywood “blacklist” of actors who speak up about Gaza is decreasing in effect.
“I had a whole host of offers in the US, in Europe, and South America, and in Spain,” said Bardem, speaking at the press conference for Rodrigo Sorogoyen’s Cannes Competition title The Beloved.
“That made me think that things are changing. Everyone is beginning to realise this [the conflict in Gaza] is unacceptable. It cannot be justified; there can be no reason, no explanation for this genocide.”
“I believe those who are drawing up these so-called blacklists will actually be exposed. They are the ones who will be suffering consequences on a public and social level, and this is a major change.”
Bardem was responding to the first press question in the conference, about whether “the fear has changed sides” on the Gaza issue.
“The fear does exist,” said Bardem. “One has to do things, even if you feel a bit scared. You have to be able to look at yourself in the mirror. My mother taught me to be the way I am. There is no plan B, no alternative, and this entails consequences, which I’m fully ready to shoulder.”
“I’m learning every day to try to be more empathetic with my fellow human beings,” said Bardem later in the session. “As you get older, you understand that there is no one truth, but there are certain things that are objectively speaking facts. For example, that in Gaza there has been, and is still being committed, a genocide. It is a fact. You can fight against it, or you can justify it. If you justify it with your silence or support, you are pro-genocide. Those are facts for me.”
Bardem has been a regular advocate for the people of Gaza and a critic of Israel’s military actions. He was credited by Competition juror Paul Laverty as “the best of us” on the festival’s opening day.
“Viva España!”
In The Beloved, Bardem plays Esteban Martinez, an acclaimed director who reunites with his unsuccessful actress daughter to make a film together that addresses their relationship. Bardem revealed that his character’s surname came from Cannes’ own Hotel Martinez, where Sorogoyen and co-writer Isabel Pena first brought him the idea four years ago.
The Beloved is one of three Spanish titles in Competition this year, alongside Pedro Almodovar’s Bitter Christmas and The Black Ball by Javier Ambrossi and Javier Calvo.
“Viva España!” exclaimed Sorogoyen at last night’s world premiere, before addressing the Lumiere audience in both his first language and French.
It is Sorogoyen’s seventh feature, and second in Cannes official selection after The Beasts played in Cannes Premiere in 2022.
Consolidation
Bardem addressed several current affairs topics during the film’s press conference, including corporate consolidation in the film industry.
“There is an increasing monopoly in the world of information,” said Bardem. ”Given Paramount and Warner Bros in their merger. In terms of information, who is actually going to control all this? What we’re listening [to] and what we’re seeing. It’s very clear, and is growing in importance with technology and social networks, rapid messages which are very populist. They have a huge impact on the young generation, and that concerns me no end, because I think we have to ensure the younger generation continues to think, apply reason.
“If they don’t, it’s very dangerous, because that could lead to major radicalisation. In Spain, we’re suffering from this very phenomenon, and in other European countries too, in addition to the US.”
The actor connected the actions of several world leaders to the problem of violence in society, especially towards women. “I come from a very machista country called Spain, where there is an average of two women killed monthly by their ex-husbands or ex-boyfriends,” said Bardem. “Just that amount of women being murdered, it’s unbelievable, and we normalised it. Are we fucking nuts? We are killing women because some men think they possess them.
“That problem also goes to Mr Trump, Mr Putin and Mr Netanyahu, the big balls man saying ‘my cock is bigger than yours, and I’m going to bomb the shit out of you’. It’s a fucking male toxic behaviour that is creating thousands of dead people.”
The Competition continues today with Laszlo Nemes’ Moulin, Jeane Herry’s Garance and Na Hong-jin’s Hope.
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