Via Agence France-Presse:
Jean-Luc Godard has decided not to attend the Tel Aviv International Student Film Festival after being urged to boycott Israel. In an open letter last week, the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel asked Godard to "take a courageous stand and cancel your trip to Israel."
"Palestinians expect someone with your history, moral commitment and consistent support for the causes of justice — from Algeria, to Vietnam, to Palestine — to stand in solidarity with us against occupation and apartheid, not to help whitewash both, whether knowingly or not. Did you ever go to an Afrikaner film festival in apartheid South Africa? Why Israel, then?" said the letter, entitled "Le petit soldat dancing on Palestinian graves," in reference to Godard's 1963 drama Le Petit soldat.
Godard was supposed to hold master classes with local students.
As per the Tel Aviv Student Film Festival's website, the festival seeks to present "The Israel You Didn't Know – We see the festival as a unique cultural and social means to presenting a different Israel to the world, Israel which supports and invests in pluralism, culture and equal opportunity."
CHOP SHOP: Q&A with Ramin Bahrani
Sydney Pollack Appreciation in the NEW YORK TIMES
SANGRE DE MI SANGRE: Q&A with Christopher Zalla
Karen Allen in the LOS ANGELES TIMES
Woody Allen in the LONDON TIMES
WATER LILIES: Q&A with Céline Sciamma
REFUSENIK: Q&A with Laura Bialis
Gloria Grahame at Bright Lights
I can understand the need for economic boycotts, but I can't figure out how a cultural boycott will help anyone's cause especially considering that most artists tend to have liberal viewpoints. They frequently use their art to promote tolerance, mutual understanding, compassion, and to fight ignorance. That's what a true artist does.
Godard probably could have taught both Israelis and Palestinians a lesson or two on human relations via his art.
A lost opportunity. Very sad.