Monday, Mar 16

How, at the Academy Awards, Javier Bardem missed a perfect opportunity to say the right thing.

Of course I watched the Oscars. Although I have seen almost none of the nominated films this year, I still watch. I watch to hear the monologue (love Conan, but oh, how I miss the era of the Billy Crystal musical opening numbers). I watch to see -for better or for worse- the spectacularly flamboyant and glamourous designer outfits hugging anorexic bodies with perfectly rounded, overflowing decolletages. I watch and try to identify the plastic surgeries of my eternally young Hollywood heroes, and also to catch film clips and hear more about the films themselves so that I know what I do and do not want to go see later this year.

The broadcast went according to my expectations. Music, applause, excited acceptance speeches, vapid banter from stars trying to sound clever. And then out came Javier Bardem. Since October 7, Javier Bardem has been an outspoken critic of Israel, supporting the Palestinians while accusing Israel of genocide, apartheid, baby-killing. Wearing a kaffiyeh at every public photo op. You know, the usual.

Javier’s job was to present the award for Best International Feature Film. I was glad to see that he’d left the kaffiyeh at home. He was wearing a pin that read “No a la Guerra” which means “No to War.” Not entirely unexpected. Then, before announcing the nominees and presenting the award, he leaned into the microphone and said clearly, “No to war, and free Palestine.” The audience erupted in applause. OK, Javier. I understand the first part. No one wants war, no one wants tyranny against innocent people. But do you even know what’s going on in the world?

Let’s start with this: One of the films nominated in the category you were presenting was It Was Just An Accident and it was from Iran, where there is no free speech (for that reason it was also co-produced by Luxembourg and France). One has to get permission from the government there to create any art, and good luck with that. The film’s writer/director, Jafar Panahi, actually had to make this film in secret, as he didn’t have a filming permit from the Islamic Republic. In the past, Panahi has been arrested and sentenced to prison and a 20-year ban on making films. The actresses in the film were in danger as they did not always wear the hijab, which is absolutely mandatory for women under the law there. In fact, every member of the cast and crew risked being arrested, tortured, and killed by the Islamic regime while making the movie. This is not an exaggeration. Only two months ago, 36,000 innocent people were killed in Iran for protesting peacefully in the streets.

So, Javier, I think we all agree that no one wants war. That is why we are working to end the 47 years of violence and global threat created by the Islamic regime. Are you unaware, or have you simply forgotten, that Iran is the #1 state sponsor of terror? That’s why, when I watched your “free Palestine” announcement, I couldn’t help but wonder why in the world you were not saying, “Free Iran”! This would have been a perfect opportunity for you to speak up in support of the Iranian people, and specifically for your Iranian movie-making colleagues whose film’s nomination you are announcing to a billion viewers.

You chose instead to ignore their plight and to focus on the Palestinians, who do need to be freed — from Hamas. Unfortunately, as you know, and as the rest of the world knows, the statement “Free Palestine” has come to be nothing more than a condemnation of Israel. Really, Javier? You need some education. Until then, all I can say is that while I pray for peace, and while I pray for the safety of innocent people the world over, I pray that someone with your celebrity status learns to use your platform for the good of humanity everywhere. We Jewish people call that Tikun Olam. And we don’t do it for the applause.

Am Yisrael Chai!