Lars Von Trier Learns about Free Speech the Hard Way

A statement just issued by director Lars Von Trier:

Today at 2 pm I was questioned by the Police of North Zealand in connection with charges made by the prosecution of Grasse in France from August 2011 regarding a possible violation of prohibition in French law against justification of war crimes. The investigation covers comments made during the press conference in Cannes in May 2011. Due to these serious accusations I have realized that I do not possess the skills to express myself unequivocally and I have therefore decided from this day forth to refrain from all public statements and interviews.

So one has to wonder, given Von Trier’s obscure sense of humor, whether this is a serious statement — it sounds serious.

Either way, there are some untouchable things — the Holocaust is at the top of that list. It’s a shame that Von Trier’s best film to date, Melancholia, has to be tossed under the bus as a result of flippant, dumb statements he made for shock value. One’s instinct might be to say “people need to get over it.” What do you think?