Aki Kaurismäki and Kati Outinen to boycott Academy Awards (Finland artist will teach evil U.S.)

Helsingin Sanomat ^ | 3/20/03 | Helsingin Sanomat

[Mark]

Culture - Thursday 20.3.2003

Aki Kaurismäki and Kati Outinen to boycott Academy Awards

Acclaimed Finnish director Aki Kaurismäki, whose film The Man Without a Past is among this year's nominees for the Best Foreign Film Oscar, will not participate in the Oscar gala next Sunday in protest at the United States's plans to attack Iraq.

Kaurismäki had reached his decision before the attack actually began early on Thursday. He will also not send anyone to represent himself. The director was highly sceptical about his appearance at the Academy Awards from the very start, and his head could not be turned even by Minister of Culture Kaarina Dromberg, who repeatedly tried to persuade Kaurismäki to go.

Kaurismäki has sent a letter to Frank Pierson, the President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, explaining that no one on his team is in the mood for a party, and that he will not participate in the festivities while the United States Government is preparing for a crime against humanity.

Kaurismäki gave an assurance that his decision is not directed against the Academy or the U.S. people, explaining that his moral choice is only like a grain of sand in today's mad world. He noted that film must live on, but that Iraqi civilians must also be allowed to live.

According to today's Ilta-Sanomat, the leading actress of The Man Without a Past, Kati Outinen, has also cancelled her plans to fly to Los Angeles for the Oscar gala. She commented that it would be impossible to smile and drink cocktails while the host country is killing women and children.

[Mark]

crime against humanity??? Oh Shucks and Awe!

[Ichneumon]

Shouldn't that be, "shucks and awwww..."?

[netmilsmom]

who? or rather who cares?

[wideawake]

His film may be entitled The Man Without a Past, but his career is now entitled The Man Without a Future.

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

Who?

My repsonse to her, WGASA.

[Mark]

Well, close enough.

[MEG33]

I'm saddened, saddened.

[thoughtomator]

Apparently this dude is to clueless to realize that he's essentially boycotting an anti-war convention.

[Mark]

Come to think of it, by opposing the war, does it not improve chances of stealing an Oscar?

[Shermy]

Shame. They had an opportunity to embarrass and shame the USA by having a ditzy drugged-up actress mangle their names.

[Conspiracy Guy]

Dang, I really hoped he'd be there with all his Wacky Hollywierd friends. I wonder what he was going to wear before he decided not to go. I better call Joan Rivers and find out. THE WHOLE THING IS A BUTT KISSING GROUP HUG.

[Chummy]

According to today's Ilta-Sanomat, the leading actress of The Man Without a Past, Kati Outinen, has also cancelled her plans to fly to Los Angeles for the Oscar gala. She commented that it would be impossible to smile and drink cocktails while the host country is killing women and children.

Not much of an actress.

What about killing evil dictators and those who maim for them? Could you smile and drink coctails then?

[breakem]

"preparing?"

[Welsh Rabbit]

LOL! Hollyweird is being boycotted by liberals. I stand in solidarity with the director, and will also be boycotting the Oscars....

[Mind-numbed Robot]

...... will not participate in the Oscar gala next Sunday in protest at the United States's plans to attack Iraq.

Does this mean the awards will be cancelled? When a well known person like that (who?) boycotts, what is the use of going on?

[MEG33]

Me,too!

[hattend]

Dang, I'm going to boycott it too!

[Mark]

..a ditzy drugged-up actress mangle their names.

That was good. I wrote it down for my wife(Born in that country).

[telebob]

Is the 'Aw jeez, not this shit again' man taking the day off? This would be perfect...

[william clark]

Well, coming from folks whose country hosted Auschwitz, I'd say the score still tilts heavily in our favor.