Benicio Del Toro Talks About the U.S. Election: ‘Politics is a Dirty Game’

As a seasoned film critic with a penchant for stories that resonate deeply, I found Benicio del Toro’s words at the Lumière Film Festival profoundly moving. His life experiences, both on and off-screen, lend an authenticity to his perspective that is hard to ignore.


As the U.S. presidential election draws near within a few weeks, Benicio del Toro has expressed his concern over how contentious topics such as immigration are exploited by candidates to mobilize votes during the campaign period.

The award-winning actor graces the event as the distinguished guest at the 16th installment of the Lumière Film Festival in Lyon, France. During this occasion, he conducted a workshop or intensive session, often referred to as a masterclass.

Del Toro is one of many prominent figures set to attend the festival, which is orchestrated by Thierry Frémaux, the head of Cannes Film Festival. Other notable personalities present in Lyon include Xavier Dolan, Isabelle Huppert, Tim Burton, and Monica Bellucci.

It’s unfair to lump everyone together and label them as bad people. Most individuals seeking to enter America are primarily motivated by the challenges in their home regions, aiming to improve their lives. While I believe it’s crucial to respect borders, these people are simply trying to make a better life for themselves.

The political landscape is riddled with unscrupulous behavior. Currently, we’re grappling with a challenging situation that’s causing immense hardship for many. It needs to be reined in. Ideally, an election will take place soon, and we’ll see how things unfold. I have faith in the upcoming generation.

The actor has a busy schedule ahead, with several upcoming projects. One of them is “The Phoenician Scheme,” directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, which is currently being finalized. Additionally, he will appear in Anderson’s next film, “The Battle of Baktan Cross,” where he will share the screen with Leonardo DiCaprio and Sean Penn.

Del Toro expressed his thoughts on the rise of streaming platforms and potential uniformity in content by saying: “When change occurs, I’m someone who responds with ‘Go ahead, go ahead!’ I believe there are now more chances for individuals passionate about cinema or storytelling.

Standing before the grand screen of Lyon’s historic Pathé cinema theater, during their masterclass, I couldn’t help but confess, “Watching a movie like this is, for me, the best.” You see, I’m a movie buff who prefers the feature-length format. frankly, my attention span just doesn’t stretch to a full miniseries.

However, he admitted, “It would be dishonest of me to claim they don’t work since I’ve taken part in them, enjoyed the process, and had a great time. For instance, I starred in a miniseries titled ‘Escape at Dannemora,’ which I found fascinating, and a movie named ‘Reptile,’ which went directly to Netflix. Both projects brought me pleasure, and they managed to find an audience. In essence, what I’m saying is, I wish you could share this experience with a group, inside a shared space,” he concluded with a smile.

The Lumiere Film Festival runs in and around Lyon until October 20.

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2024-10-14 19:16