Everything To Know About ‘Z’ Opening Night
The letter “Z” is frequently used as a symbol of support for Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. Since Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine in February. The world’s most prestigious film festivals have grappled with difficult decisions about how to support the European country.
Early calls to prohibit Russian films were mostly dismissed as mistaken attempts to penalize artists who opposed the war. Most festivals are still working with Russian directors. The Cannes Film Festival, on the other hand, is now dealing with another Russian problem. This time from an unexpected source: a zombie film.
Out of competition, “Z,” a new film from Michel Hazanavicius, is set to begin the festival. The film stars Romain Duris and Berenice Bejo and is a remake of the 2017 Japanese zombie comedy “One Cut of the Dead.”
The highly anticipated picture from the filmmaker of “The Artist” was supposed to premiere in Sundance. It was transferred to Cannes after the Park City festival went virtual.
However, the film is in problems again as it seemingly shares its name with a Russian hate symbol and it is now drawing unwanted attention.
The letter “Z” is seen on numerous Russian military vehicles, and it is utilized by the Russian army to distinguish its troops from Ukrainian ones. The emblem has taken on greater importance in Russian and European culture since the conflict began. The Russian citizens used it to show their support for the invasion.
The symbol has come to be known as a “Zwastika” by some media figures. It has come to represent the same kind of ethnonationalism as the Nazi swastika. The symbol, as well as the letter “V,” which serves a similar purpose, has been prohibited in Ukraine by the Verkhovna Rada.
Ukrainians Expressed Outrage At The Cannes Film Festival
In Cannes, France, the Cannes Film Festival is an annual festival that showcases films from around the world. Ukrainians have expressed outrage at the concept of a hate sign being displayed so prominently at the festival.
The Ukrainian Film Institute stated in a letter to Cannes (via Variety) that, “we consider that changing the title of the opening film of the Cannes Film Festival would be a gesture against the barbarity, violence, and terror of the Russian army.”
Renaming it is a simple fix for Hazanavicius and Cannes since the movie is already set to be released internationally under the title “Final Cut.”
Hazanavicius said in a statement to Variety, “I named my film ‘Z comme Z’ in France because it’s a zombie comedy. It’s inspired by what we call in France ‘series Z,’ or B movies in America. To know that this title has caused the Ukrainian people some distress makes me feel powerless and so sad. It’s the last thing I wanted to do.”
The filmmaker bemoaned that it is “too late” to change the film’s title in France. But, he said that he intends to use “Final Cut” as the international title on all marketing materials at Cannes.
“My heart goes out to the Ukrainian people who have been suffering enough,” Hazanavicius said. “And the last thing I want to do is to cause more pain or more discomfort.”
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