Pedro Almodóvar Calls for Europe to Resist Netanyahu Trump Putin

At the Cannes Film Festival on Wednesday, celebrated Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar called on Europeans to act as a shield against what he described as monstrous leadership, specifically naming former U.S. President Donald Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The director made the remarks during a press conference for his new film, Bitter Christmas, which is competing for the Palme d’Or.

Almodóvar stated that as Europeans, there is an obligation to become a kind of shield against these figures because Europe respects international law. He wore a "Free Palestine" pin on his lapel during the event, reiterating his longstanding criticism of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. His comments echoed similar sentiments expressed days earlier by Spanish actor Javier Bardem, a frequent collaborator, who criticized the toxic masculinity of the same three leaders at a separate Cannes press conference.

The filmmaker’s statements came in response to a question about growing censorship concerns, particularly referencing controversies in the United States and France. He urged artists not to succumb to fear, arguing that silence is a symptom...