‘The young generations don’t remember World War II’: Martin Scorsese premiered his long-awaited film starring Leonardo Di Caprio and Robert de Niro at Cannes

Killers of the flower moonthe recent delivery of Martin Scorsesewas received with a long standing ovation at the world premiere in Cannes last Saturday Grand Theater Lumiere of the most prestigious film festival in the world.

The respected American director, winner of the Palme d’Or with Cab driver in 1976, Best Director Award after an hour in 1986, and president of the jury in 1988, he returned emotionally to the Croisette, accompanied for the first time by his two favorite actors: Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert de Niro.

Since dawn, hundreds of people have been waiting outside the Palacio del Cine with umbrellas, banners and posters for the arrival of their idols. On the red carpet, big stars love Cate Blanchet, Robbie Williams, Kate Hudson, Pedro Almodóvar, Alfonso Cuarón, Kirsten Dunst, Salma Hayek, as well as a group of Native American Indians wearing their colorful traditional costumes. The premiere of Killers of the flower moonthe most anticipated event of the competition, undoubtedly stirred up the festival day.

The film, an adaptation of the book of the same name by the journalist david grandmaportrays during three and a half hoursin a manner of western with brilliant touches of police drama, a series of mysterious murders of members of the Osage tribe in a remote corner of Oklahoma in the 1920s. All because of the unexpected appearance of the oil manna in this native reserve. In the blink of an eye, the Osage become millionaires by exploiting oil. Women become objects of desire for ambitious white men, who are willing to marry them by any means to keep the money.

In this mega-production of Apple, DiCaprio embodies Ernest Boerhart, who marries a native woman, Mollie (Native actress Lily Gladstone), and is cynically manipulated by his cattle magnate uncle (Robert De Niro). When oil is discovered in 1920s Oklahoma, under Osage Nation land, the people are murdered one by one until the FBI steps in to solve the crimes.

The movie is in the real place of events. The script was thoroughly revised before filming, according to Scorsese, because he wanted to “do the right thing” with the indigenous people and referenced the importance of spending a lot of time with the Osage people, getting to know them thoroughly . “The first time I was introduced to the book, I said, ‘If we’re going to approach them, these indigenous peoples, we have to be very respectful,’ the filmmaker continued.

Upon his arrival and presentation in the press room, the cast and director began to express their gratitude for the reception he received with a standing ovation. Killer of the flower moon. “This is the culmination of years of work and extraordinary warmth and I think that love was expressed yesterday. I don’t just speak for myself, but for everyone here I think came from the heartScorsese noted.

-I didn’t ask Mr. Scorsese what kind of story he was going to tell and he answered me: “I’m going to tell a story about trust. Familiar between Mollie and Ernest, between the outside world and the Osage. And the betrayal of this trust, a very deep betrayal. But now I can say on behalf of the Osage Nation that Scorsese and his team have restored that confidence,” said the leader of the Osage Nation. Chief Standing Bear, which referred to the suffering his people suffered and suffers to this day.

“We didn’t want to lose our voice in the story, and some of the team members came and joined in some prayers and dinner. I remember they said, we’ll make the movie and the Osages will be proud.”

During the speeches, DiCaprio praised Scorsese’s ability to capture the personality of morally ambiguous types of people on screen: “What Marty does so incredibly well is that he’s able to expose the humanity of even the most twisted and sinister characters imaginable.”said the actor. “He has the ability to tell the truth through his characters and stories.”

Of his character in the film (William Hale), De Niro admitted, “I don’t understand much about him, why people do things and he has to be charming, he has to win people over and he does things at the same time.” that ends up betraying them.”

“We became more aware after George Floyd, we saw that systemic racism. As we watched that banality of evil. That’s what we need to take care of. We see it today, of course. We all know who I’m going to talk about. but I won’t say the name. There is blind loyalty to bad men. There are still people who believe they can do it right. Imagine how crazy that is.”

On the war between Russia and Ukraine, Scorsese expressed his nervousness and concern for the whole area. “Young generations don’t remember the Second World War, They don’t know what happened to the Balkan countries or Poland, or what happened between Russia and Germany, let alone what happened in the 18th century between Poland and Napoleon. This area has always been an area of ​​conflict, my regret comes from a country used by a government system that threatens freedom of speech as a republic. In that sense, I think we should help countries that are at least trying some form of democratic process. Because it reminds me of the time in history in the 1930s when democracy ended, everything ended and it turned into pure fascism and communism, pain and that was it. And now it’s deeper and stronger. I think it has to do with the values ​​themselves of how you live, what is important to you in life. And I have to tell you. I think freedom of speech is the most important thing and that doesn’t mean shouting fire in a crowded theater when there isn’t one. That’s an old cliché, but You have to be able to express yourself and live life, even if that is sometimes quite difficult” I’m shutting down the Scorsese.

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