Peter Greenaway censors his presenation at the Cairo Film Festival to avoid causing offence
449 views · Published 26 November 2018 · 1:30 · Indexed 2 October 2026
Channel: AP Archive · 2018 · Entertainment
(21 Nov 2018) PETER GREENAWAY CENSORS HIS PRESENATION AT THE CAIRO FILM FESTIVAL TO AVOID CAUSING OFFENCE British Director Peter Greenaway, who is in Egypt to receive an award at the Cairo Film Festival, says that he censored a visual presentation he will give to festival attendees in order to not anger Egyptian authorities. Greenaway, who directed films including, "The Belly of an Architect" (1987) and "The Cook, the Thief, His Wife and Her Lover" (1989), received the Faten Hamama award at the festival's opening Tuesday (20NOV18) for his career achievements. Greenaway, who describes himself as both a painter and director, is known for approaching cinematography with an artist's eye and has even based one of his films on the Rembrandt painting, "The Night Watch." His works are also known for their extensive use of nudity and frequently addressing issues of sexuality, which makes him an unexpected recipient for an award at the Cairo film festival. Egypt's government censors films which are shown in the country on the basis of "corrupting public morals." Profanity, drug use, and amorous scenes are frequently edited out of films shown in the largely conservative Muslim country. Greenaway says he censored a visual presentation he is meant to give festival attendees on Wednesday to avoid offending Egyptian festival organizers and officials. Egypt has waged an unprecedented crackdown on dissent under President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi, a former general who led the military overthrow of his elected but divisive Islamist predecessor in 2013. Thousands have been imprisoned, with some rights advocates putting the number as high as 60,000. Among them are artists, comedians and writers who have made works critical of the government. Activists and organizations such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have documented enforced disappearances, widespread torture and a recent arrest campaign targeting people authorities believe are gay. The authorities have blocked hundreds of independent news and critical websites. Earlier this week, Human Rights Watch said that at least 40 lawyers and activists have been rounded up since last month, the latest arrests in a wide-scale crackdown on dissent. However, Greenaway says he has come to Egypt is in the hope that art might help expand the country's intellectual boundaries, and that turning down the invitation on these ground would have been rather pessimistic. "You might as well go live in a dark cell somewhere," he said. In the past, Greenaway has said he wishes to end his own life upon turning 80 years old. He lives in Holland, where assisted death is legal under certain circumstances. On Wednesday, he said he still thinks it is a possibility he will go through with it. "The world belongs to the young, and I think it's very selfish to hang on and hang on," he said. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Archive Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APArchives Google+: https://plus.google.com/b/102011028589719587178/+APArchive Tumblr: https://aparchives.tumblr.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/APNews/ You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/00562f6648f34bcb3d1c35be7d167f5e
