Screenwriter and playwright Tony Kushner is standing up for Jonathan Glazer’s controversial Oscar speech, defending his words against critics. In his acceptance speech for the Academy Award for Best International Feature for his Holocaust movie “The Zone of Interest,” Glazer brought attention to the ongoing violence in the Middle East. He emphasized how the film highlights the devastating consequences of dehumanization, stating, “Right now, we stand here as men who refute their Jewishness and the Holocaust being hijacked by an occupation which has led to conflict for so many innocent people.”
Glazer’s speech has sparked both praise on social media and dissent within the industry, including an open letter from over 1,000 Jewish creatives and executives denouncing his statements. However, Tony Kushner, a renowned figure in the film industry with four Academy Award nominations for his works such as “Munich,” “Lincoln,” and “The Fabelmans,” fully supports Glazer’s remarks. During an episode of the “Haaretz Podcast,” Kushner described Glazer’s words as “unimpeachable, irrefutable statements.”
When asked if he identified with Glazer’s speech, Kushner responded with a resounding “Of course. I mean, who doesn’t?” He went on to explain that Glazer’s message is simple yet crucial – the history, suffering, and identity of the Jewish people, including the Holocaust, must never be exploited as an excuse for dehumanizing or slaughtering others. Kushner firmly believes that it is a misrepresentation of Jewish values, and he fully supports Glazer’s rejection of such misappropriation.
Kushner further expressed his disbelief that anyone could view the ongoing conflict in Gaza as acceptable. His own work often explores themes related to his Jewish identity, and he has been vocal about issues concerning Israel and Palestine in the past. It is evident that Kushner’s stance aligns with Glazer’s in condemning the misuse of Jewish history and suffering.
The “Haaretz Podcast,” hosted by Allison Kaplan Sommer from Israel’s oldest daily newspaper, provides an opportunity to delve deeper into topics such as Israel, the Middle East, and Jewish politics and culture.
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