North Korea really doesn't like The Interview. You'll know as much, provided you've not spent the last few months in a country with a total media blackout like... well, like North Korea. But such is their disdain for Sony's satirical comedy that it's led to an unfortunate misunderstanding between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the Berlin International Film Festival.
Upon hearing that The Interview was to be screened at the Berlin International Film Festival, the DPRK government issued a strongly-worded statement via Korean Central Television accusing the Berlinale of "instigating terrorism". By showing the film and apparently siding with the US, Germany (interchangeable with the Berlinale it would seem) is openly enacting terrorism against the DPRK and even "repeating its shameful history" of the Holocaust.
The misunderstanding? The Interview isn't showing at the Berlin Film Festival, nor was it ever planned to.
The error seems to have arisen over a shared date: James Franco and Seth Rogen's much-discussed title is getting a Germany-wide release on 5 February (the poster for which can be seen above), the same day that the Berlinale starts its festivities.
Berlin festival director Dieter Kosslick has told The Hollywood Reporter that he would meet with the North Korean ambassador to Germany on Thursday to clarify the matter and hopefully smooth things over.
At this rate, Sony will be able to make a pretty interesting film based on the events surrounding the hack, cancelled release, eventual release and further problems caused by The Interview. Here's hoping they don't cast Rogen or Franco as a North Korean ambassador.
(Images: Rex)
[Via: The Hollywood Reporter]
