Danish film director Lars Von Trier described himself as a Nazi who is not against Jews during the Cannes Film Festival.

Von Trier, who was at the festival to promote his film "Meloncholia," reportedly made the comments in jest. During a news conference Wednesday he said that "I am a Nazi," and called Israel "a pain in the ass."

"The only thing I can tell you is that I thought I was a Jew for a long time and was very happy being a Jew, then later on came [Danish and Jewish director] Susanne Bier, and suddenly I wasn't so happy about being a Jew. That was a joke. Sorry. But it turned out that I was not a Jew. If I'd been a Jew, then I would be a second-wave Jew, a kind of a new-wave Jew, but anyway, I really wanted to be a Jew and then I found out that I was really a Nazi, because my family is German. And that also gave me some pleasure.

So, I, what can I say? I understand Hitler. I think he did some wrong things but I can see him sitting in his bunker. I'm saying that I think I understand the man. He is not what we could call a good guy, but yeah, I understand much about him and I sympathize with him ... But come on! I'm not for the Second World War. And I'm not against Jews. No, not even Susanne Bier. I am very much for them. As much as Israelis are a pain in the ass. How do I get out of this sentence? Okay, I am a Nazi. As for the art, I'm for Speer. Albert Speer I liked. He was also one of God's best children. He has a talent that ... Okay, enough."

Elan Steinberg, vice president of the American Gathering of Holocaust Survivors and their Descendants, in a statement said that "Holocaust survivors condemn Von Trier's repulsive comments as an insensitive exploitation of victims' suffering for self-serving promotion and publicity.

"His vulgar comments may have been made in jest and for shock, but those subjected to the brutalities of the Nazi regime cannot find amusement in recalling the torture and deaths of those terrible times. We cannot give a review of his film, but as a person Von Trier is a moral failure."

Journalists and critics have called Von Trier's new film a triumph and said it is in the running for the Palme d'Or prize in Cannes for best picture. His politically charged comments could harm his film's chances, according to reports.

via jta.org

UPDATE:

The Cannes Film Festival condemned Von Trier's remarks and asked him to release an explanation and official apology on Wednesday, stating that the organization was "deeply disturbed" by his remarks.

Von Trier has since released the following statement: "If I have hurt someone this morning by the words I said at the press conference, I sincerely apologize. I am not antisemitic or racially prejudiced in any way, nor am I a Nazi."