Quentin Tarantino branded ‘elitist snob’ by Italian culture minister

LONDON - The Venice Film Festival came under the line of controversy when Italy’s culture minister criticized Quentin Tarantino, head of jury, branding him as ‘elitist snob’.

The verbal attack on the cult film director by Sandro Bondi has been interpreted as sour grapes after Italian films failed to claim any prizes at the world famous festival.

“Tarantino is an expression of an elitist, relativistic and snobbish culture that takes no account of popular taste and feelings. His vision influences his critical judgements. The results of the festival oblige everyone to open their eyes and do some soul-searching,” the Telegraph quoted as telling to an Italian news magazine Panorama.

The minister also demanded the involvement of state in the selection of judges for the festival in the following years.

There were accusations that Tarantino favoured his friends in choosing which films to honour.

The main trophy, the Golden Lion, went to Sofia Coppola, his ex-girlfriend, for her film ‘Somewhere’ whereas a friend of his, Alex de la Iglesia, won a best director Silver Lion for ‘A Sad Trumpet Ballad’.

The outspoken Bondi, a former Communist, has earlier admitted that he is baffled by contemporary art and architecture.(ANI)