Bernardo Bertolucci clears up 'ridiculous misunderstanding' about filming rape scene

Last Tango in Paris director Bernardo Bertolucci said the discussion of the rape scene, which the media said was filmed without the consent of actress Maria Schneider, was caused by a "ridiculous misunderstanding."

According to him, in a 2013 interview, he stated that he did not warn the actress only about the use of oil in the scene, and not about the rape scene as such.

“Someone thought, and thinks [now] that Maria was not warned about the violence. This is wrong! Maria knew everything because she read the script where it was all described. The only innovation was the oil idea," the director said in a statement.

According to Bertolucci, it was this, and not the rape scene itself, that caused the actress to resent him.

“It is comforting and disappointing that some are still so naive that they believe that what is shown on the screen is actually happening. Those who don't know that sex in movies is almost always simulated probably think every time John Wayne shoots an enemy that someone has died for real," the director said.

The Republic

• In early December 2016, a video fragment of an interview with Bernardo Bertolucci in 2013 appeared in the media, in which he says that during the filming of Last Tango in Paris, he did not warn actress Maria Schneider that butter would be used in the scene of rape of her heroine by Marlon Brando's character. as a lubricant. He explained that in this way he wanted to get from her "the reaction of a woman, not an actress." He admitted that he feels guilty towards Schneider, but does not regret his decision.
• Bertolucci's statement was seen by many as an admission that the rape scene was filmed without the actress's consent. Many media and film figures have strongly condemned Bertolucci.