Brief
Charlotte Gainsbourg recommends Kanye West and reflects on Lars von Trier at Busan
The French actress cited Kanye West as a controversial influence and revisited her film "Melancholia" with director Lars von Trier during a Busan masterclass.
By Felo News Desk · Published
During a masterclass at the Busan International Film Festival, French actress Charlotte Gainsbourg named Kanye West as a "very controversial" artist she still listens to, then turned to her own cinema work, recalling her collaboration with Lars von Trier on the film Melancholia.
What happened
Gainsbourg, attending Busan for the first time, opened the session by telling the audience she has "one artist that I listen to, very controversial artist, but I listen to everything he does, and it’s Kanye West," prompting laughter. She then said her safest pick for a film‑related recommendation was film scores. The masterclass also included a screening of Melancholia, one of four films she made with von Trier, which followed the discussion.
What the reports add
The Variety report notes that Gainsbourg chose Melancholia over other collaborations because it was the easiest to program and she wanted to see it again after 15 years. She explained that "Antichrist" earned her a Cannes best‑actress award, while showing "Nymphomaniac" would have required two films, making "Melancholia" the simplest choice.
What was said
Gainsbourg said, "I’m not good for recommendation. I have one artist that I listen to, very controversial artist, but I listen to everything he does, and it’s Kanye West," as reported by Variety. She added, "I guess it was the easiest choice, ‘Melancholia,’ and also because selfishly, I want to see it again," and laughed that she hadn’t seen the film in 15 years. When asked about von Trier, she replied, "Well, I can’t say he’s a friend, but he’s a dear friend… As a human being, he’s very tortured. And that touches me. And in his films, he gives a lot of himself. He’s extremely vulnerable," also from the Variety piece. An audience member’s question about playing von Trier’s women prompted Gainsbourg to note, "People exactly think that I am only one side. They think I’m fragile and soft and kind and respectful. I like to show the other side of me, and with Lars’s films, I’m able to." She also rejected the label "prolific" when the interpreter described her filmography as over 80 titles.
How it came about
Gainsbourg’s appearance follows recent Busan festival highlights, including Alfonso Cuarón’s participation (Felo coverage) and the acquisition of Eddie Cahyono’s film Ibuku (Felo coverage). Her masterclass adds a personal perspective on music and filmmaking to the festival’s broader focus on international cinema.
Key facts
- Charlotte Gainsbourg named Kanye West as a controversial artist she listens to during a Busan masterclass. (variety.com)
- She discussed screening her 2006 film "Melancholia," a collaboration with Lars von Trier. (variety.com)
- Gainsbourg said she chose "Melancholia" because it was the easiest to program and she wanted to re‑watch it after 15 years. (variety.com)
- She described Lars von Trier as "a dear friend" who is "very tortured" and vulnerable in his work. (variety.com)
Sources
- [1] variety.com — originally reported as “Charlotte Gainsbourg on Listening to ‘Controversial’ Kanye West and Working With ‘Tortured’ Lars von Trier at Busan”
