László Nemes isn't pulling any punches. The Oscar-winning Hungarian director has delivered a blistering attack on what he calls an "orgy of antisemitism" sweeping through Western societies – and frankly, his words hit like a sledgehammer. Speaking from a London hotel with the kind of raw intensity that made 'Son of Saul' such a devastating masterpiece, Nemes refuses to sugar-coat the ugly reality he's witnessing unfold across the West.
The timing couldn't be more potent. Nemes is out promoting his latest drama 'Orphan' whilst gearing up for Cannes, where his Jean Moulin biopic is set to make waves. But this isn't just another promotional tour – this is a director on fire, wielding the same unflinching vision that earned him Oscar, BAFTA, and Cannes gold with his Holocaust masterwork. 'Son of Saul' didn't just win awards; it grabbed audiences by the throat and forced them to confront the unthinkable horrors of Auschwitz. That Golden Globe, that Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, that BAFTA for Best Film Not in the English Language – they weren't just gongs, they were recognition of cinema at its most brutally honest.
But Nemes isn't stopping at societal criticism. He's turned his guns on the film industry itself, refusing "to be lectured by the film industry 'overclass'" – a scorching indictment that suggests deep frustration with Hollywood's elite and their perceived moral grandstanding. This is a filmmaker who's clearly had enough of the disconnect between cinematic virtue-signalling and real-world action, particularly when global events are spiralling.
What makes Nemes so compelling is his absolute refusal to play it safe. 'Son of Saul' proved he could deliver earth-shattering cinema that doesn't flinch from humanity's darkest chapters. The film's unique perspective on the concentration camps resonated like thunder with UK audiences, who've always had an appetite for challenging, historically significant storytelling that cuts to the bone.
British viewers can still experience the full force of 'Son of Saul' on Netflix – and they absolutely should. Meanwhile, all eyes will be on his upcoming projects, 'Orphan' and the Jean Moulin biopic. With a director this passionate, this uncompromising, and this willing to speak truth to power, these films promise to be absolute dynamite.