Director Lars Von Trier's Career in Jeopardy after Remarks About 'Sympathizing' With Hitler

It wasn't so long ago that Yidio reported that acclaimed but controversial "Dogtown" and "Antichrist" director Lars Von Trier had landed a plumb gig rehashing his directorial challenge "The Five Obstructions" alongside Martin Scorsese. As a matter of fact, what was to be the first Scorsese film Von Trier challenged the man to remake? Why, the Robert De Niro-starring classic "Taxi Driver."

Now? It could soon be a wonder if the Danish director can nab a gig directing a dog food commercial.

Von Trier's recent public remarks at the Cannes Film Festival where he joked that he's a little bit of a Nazi and "sympathized with Hitler, a little bit" got him a little bit banned from the prestigious event, where his latest film "Melancholia" was in competition and Kirsten Dunst nabbed the Best Actress trophy.

Unfortunately, The Hollywood Reporter reports, the film's Argentinian distributor won't release the film and the Anti-Defamation League has condemned the director publicly.

"I know it will be harder now to get financing and to get the actors I want," von Trier, who also worked with Academy Award winner Nicole Kidman for "Dogtown," told The Hollywood Reporter.

Von Trier has been downplaying accusations of anti-semitism and claims he's "not Mel Gibson," while his partners have also defended him, saying he can't always be taken so literally.

"You have to separate what Lars said from the movie, which we think is one of the great works of European cinema," says Markus Zimmer, managing director at Melancholia's German distributor, Concorde. "His comments are just Lars being Lars. He loves being the agent provocateur. But the film is not offensive at all."

The U.K., French and Canadian distributors for "Melancholia" have all retained the film despite the remarks.