Celebrated British director Ken Loach spoke out in support of director Jonathan Glazer’s controversial acceptance speech for Best International Film at this year’s Academy Awards. Glazer made a pointed statement about his Jewishness in relation to the occupation of Palestine. While some praised the speech, such as Loach, a number of figures accused Glazer of amplifying anti-Jewish sentiment. Loach appeared to endorse the message of Glazer’s speech. At the British Academy Film Awards earlier this year, Loach posed with a sign urging “Stop the massacre” in reference to the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
In a new interview with Variety, Loach expressed admiration for Glazer’s decision to deliver the speech and stand against the tide. “He understood the possible consequences, which makes him braver still,” Loach said. “Lots of support from many, many Jewish people who said it breaks the stereotype that all Jewish people support what Israel is doing, because clearly that’s not the case … [The speech] was hugely valuable in that it shows that diversity. So I’ve got great respect for what he did.”
While Loach’s comments were supportive, other members of the Jewish community have spoken out against Glazer’s speech, such as the Holocaust Survivors’ Foundation, who claimed that Glazer was distorting the historical realities of the Jewish experience with the Holocaust to promote his own political views.
Loach also revealed information about a documentary he had previously planned on the Middle East: “It would have had to be a documentary, but it was a big project and certainly beyond me for the last decade.”
Finally, singer Olly Alexander confirmed that he will not boycott the Eurovision Song Contest this year, despite Israel’s participation
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