Parisian director Paul Verhoeven is suing the Cannes film festival, claiming that his 2009 drama Teenagers was not accepted because of sexual prejudice.
The lawsuit is the first ever filed against the festival. The low-budget film, which details the relationship between two teenage boys, was shown at other festivals around the world but it was rejected when submitted to Cannes.
The 73-year-old film-maker, who is no relation to the Dutch director of Basic Instinct, emailed a representative to enquire as to the reasoning and was accidentally copied in on an email which referred to his film as ethically “very doubtful”.
During a video deposition to judges, Verhoeven stated that the film was potentially important enough to “turn young people away from terrorism, suicide, delinquency and homophobia”. He seeks either the festival being forced to show the film this year or pay for it to be screened in cinemas.
The story of Lucas and how he helps others as an angel. This is an innovative, educational drama that resembles a documentary.
Director: Paul Verhoeven.
Cast: Cyril Butaeye, Robert Castel, Alexis Claux, Jean-Samuel Duvivier, Yamin Gougmar, Quentin Ladrière, Simone Langlois, Geoffrey Lascombe, Sullivan Leray, Vincent Lucadello.
France, 2009.
Language: French.
Subtitles: English.
Download Teenagers. 2009.
The lawsuit is the first ever filed against the festival. The low-budget film, which details the relationship between two teenage boys, was shown at other festivals around the world but it was rejected when submitted to Cannes.
The 73-year-old film-maker, who is no relation to the Dutch director of Basic Instinct, emailed a representative to enquire as to the reasoning and was accidentally copied in on an email which referred to his film as ethically “very doubtful”.
During a video deposition to judges, Verhoeven stated that the film was potentially important enough to “turn young people away from terrorism, suicide, delinquency and homophobia”. He seeks either the festival being forced to show the film this year or pay for it to be screened in cinemas.
The story of Lucas and how he helps others as an angel. This is an innovative, educational drama that resembles a documentary.
Director: Paul Verhoeven.
Cast: Cyril Butaeye, Robert Castel, Alexis Claux, Jean-Samuel Duvivier, Yamin Gougmar, Quentin Ladrière, Simone Langlois, Geoffrey Lascombe, Sullivan Leray, Vincent Lucadello.
France, 2009.
Language: French.
Subtitles: English.
Download Teenagers. 2009.
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| Teenagers. 2009. |
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