German director Wenders clarifies views on film and politics

German director Wim Wenders clarified his views about the relationship between filmmakers and politics on Sunday after he caused an outcry at the Berlin film festival earlier this year.

Speaking in Venice, where he is presenting a new film about Swiss architect Peter Zumthor, the "Paris, Texas" director said he had been misunderstood.

While serving as the head of the jury at the Berlin film festival in February, Wenders told reporters that filmmakers "cannot really enter the field of politics" when he was asked about Germany's support for Israel throughout the Gaza war.

"What I said then is that as filmmakers, we are the opposite of politicians. We have empathy. Politicians work without empathy," Wenders told reporters at the Venice Film Festival when asked if he had reconsidered his views.

"We are not working with a mindset of politicians, we are working with a mindset of empathetic people. And we are into changing things. I say that again and I hope you're not misquoting me and saying we have to stay out of politics because we do the opposite. We are the antidote," he added.

At Venice's opening press conference last Wednesday, jury president Maggie Gyllenhaal weighed in on the topic, saying that movies are "fundamentally, undeniably political".

The war in Gaza has been a frequent political flashpoint at European film festivals, with organisers and movie industry leading lights asked for their views on the conflict.

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