UK NEWS

MINISTER: FILMS CAN SAVE THE WORLD

Margaret Hodge

Monday May 19,2008

By Jack Teague for express.co.uk

Comment Speech Bubble Have your say(8)

CULTURE Minister Margaret Hodge talked today about how films can promote peace and understanding of different cultures.

Ms Hodge was visiting Cannes and has been discussing with European ministers how to work together to promote 'cultural diplomacy'.

She said she passionately believed that culture had a role in understanding each other and could be used to promote world peace.

And she revealed: “What’s so fantastic about film is that it’s pretty international.”

ARE YOU BRIGHTER THAN THE CULTURE MINISTER?...

What’s so fantastic about film is that it’s pretty international.

Margaret Hodge MP, Culture Minister

TEST YOUR CANNES IQ NOW IN OUR FUN FILM QUIZ!

Ms Hodge was also talking to independent producers today and visiting the UK Film Council, which has a stand at the Cannes Film Festival.

Talking about Woody Allen’s new film Vicky Cristina Barcelona, Ms Hodge highlighted one of its stars, Rebecca Hall.

She said: “It’s an American movie with a British up-and-coming star.

“There is a fantastic cosmopolitan sense to film.

“I think one of the reasons Britain’s so great is that we’re an open society and receptive.”

Ms Hodge said that while in Cannes she had seen the film Gomorra, a hard-hitting Italian drama in competition, which covers the themes of power, money and violence.

Asked what she thought of the film, Ms Hodge said: “I’m not the world’s best on killings...

“I thought it was trying to deal with a serious issue, the impact of the Mafia on society.

“It had a serious message.”

Ms Hodge said she was also seeing Gwyneth Paltrow’s new film, Two Lovers, during the festival.

She said she would have also liked to have seen the film Of Time And City, which is showing out of the competition and centres around the city of Liverpool.

Ms Hodge said she had also been discussing the establishment of a new programme which could help the distribution of film to and from developing countries.

WHICH ASYLUM DOES SHE REPRESENT ?

20.05.08, 10:06am

Perhaps someone could let me (and the rest of the Country) know.

• Posted by: EmperorMing • Report Comment

MINISTER: FILMS CAN SAVE THE WORLD

20.05.08, 10:05am

Oh well that it then isnt it ?

Just send a couple of films to Afghanistan, Iraq and to Mugabe then ALL BRITISH TROOPS COULD BE PULLED OUT WITHIN WEEKS.

• Posted by: EmperorMing • Report Comment

NEW FILM OF FRANKENSTEIN NO DOUBTWITH EASIER ABORTION

20.05.08, 8:44am

Labour talks nonsense about the cinema and votes for part-human part-animal hybrids. This government is morally bankrupt and should go. The Tories must at least stand firm on abortion today and not, as their spokesman Andrew Lansley, wants vote for easier abortion by scrapping the need for the authorisation of doctors. That would be a horror film, indeed.

• Posted by: voter • Report Comment

THIS ONE DEFINATLEY FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST

19.05.08, 9:59pm

The woman is quite obviously barking mad, but then again in good company with the other lunatics that are currently running the GB asylum.
Still nice to see that she is having a nice few days in the South of France, no doubt running up the expenses bill for the poor old tax payer ! Wonder how much champaign will be drunk on this little trip.
Think the old ding bat must have seen too many Indiana Jones films.

• Posted by: Russell42 • Report Comment

FILMS TO SAVE THE WORLD?

19.05.08, 7:30pm

I've got this feeling that if all noo layboor ministers had to undergo psychiatric tests before taking office, we would be without a government for two years. Now would'nt that be a good thing?. Actually, the poor old girl Hodge was thinking of Walt Disney. Lighting up the dark corners of cuckoo land with muslim lazars.When do I get let out?

• Posted by: bluenote • Report Comment