[Cannes Dispatch by Eugene Hernandez]

Lars von Trier's latest film in his USA trilogy, "Manderlay", drew more questions about his decision to make movies about a place that he has never visited. During a press conference this morning in Cannes, after a screening of his powerful new film, von Trier addressed the issue head on, asserting that he is essentially an American.

There's more on the film, and its striking similarity with "Revenge of the Sith", in a Dispatch from Cannes just published on indieWIRE.com. A quote from today's von Trier press conference is below followed by a bit of dialogue from the film's script (via the Festival de Cannes website):

With the knowledge that Lars von Trier has never been to America, journalists this morning asked the filmmaker to address his reasons for pursuing a trilogy of films set in the United States. "America is a big subject because such a big part of our lives have to do with America," he said, "I must say, I feel there could just as well be American military in Denmark. We are a nation under influence and under a very bad influence…because Mr. Bush is an asshole and doing very idiotic things." Continuing, he reflected on the U.S. dominacnce over other countries and culture. "America is sitting on our world, I am making films that have to do with America (because) 60% of my life is America. So I am in fact an American, but I can't go there to vote, I cant change anything. I am an American, so that is why I make films about America."

Extract of Dialogue, from the Festival de Cannes website:

NARRATOR: To make sure that everyone understood the democratic principle, the meeting carried out another ballot at Jim's suggestion.

JIM:
I wanna talk about the fact that Sammy being laughing so loud of his own jokes, and they ain't funny, and I been tryin' to get some sleep, and I can't get no sleep, cause he laughs so loud. Maybe perhaps there can a be a time when he can stop his jokes, and stop laughing, so we can get some sleep.

SAMMY:
You can't vote on a man's laughter.

GRACE:
I'm hearing that it's at sundown... at sundown. That's what I'm hearing. So let's do a vote.

(Almost everyone votes for Jim's suggestion).

GRACE:
All right, so that's settled.

SAMMY:
That's democracy?