Wait...is there some problem with making Hitler jokes in France?
“The Festival de Cannes provides artists from around the world with an exceptional forum to present their works and defend freedom of expression and creation. The Festival’s Board of Directors, which held an extraordinary meeting this Thursday 19 May 2011, profoundly regrets that this forum has been used by Lars Von Trier to express comments that are unacceptable, intolerable, and contrary to the ideals of humanity and generosity that preside over the very existence of the Festival. The Board of Directors firmly condemns these comments and declares Lars Von Trier a persona non grata at the Festival de Cannes, with effect immediately.”
—- The Cannes Film Festival organizers, kicking Danish director Lars Von Trier out of the event (though his film remains in the competition for a prize) for some rambling, clearly (if ineptly) facetious comments he made to reporters in response to a question, referring to himself as a Nazi and saying that Israel was “a pain in the ass.”
This should be an easy one.
Ethics Alarms 
Film festivals are about expression, and they’re smothering his expression for a joke?
So it seems. Because, you know, you can’t joke about Hitler.
Wait, so they allow Polanski but not Von Trier? I’m guessing that action doesn’t speak louder than words at Cannes.
Wow, I hadn’t even thought of that, and I’m pretty rough on Polanski.
Wow, I hadn’t thought of that either!!! Yes, it’s OK to be a child-rapist, but make a clumsy joke about Jews and Nazis in your second language, and you’re toast.
Well, it was a REALLY bad joke, Jack. They had to at least put him in time-out.
Knowing a lot of visual artists, I can tell you that there is usually a reason why their prefer other means of communication than words…especially off the cuff words. There is a reason why the President loves his teleprompter.
Unrelated: Jack, did you get that picture I sent you?
Yes! Perfect…looks just like him, except in the eyes.
“Ideals of humanity and generosity”? At Cannes??