The Austrian director Ulrich Seidl (“Dog Days”, “Paradise: Love”) has rejected allegations against him for dealing with underage amateur actors. “I have the greatest respect for all actors and I would never make decisions that endanger their physical and mental well-being in any way,” the Austrian news agency APA quoted the 69-year-old filmmaker as saying. “We never overstepped the bounds of what was ethically and morally imperative while shooting.”
Previously he had mirror reports that years ago, when the film “Sparta” was being shot in Romania, children were confronted with scenes of alcoholism, violence and nudity without adequate preparation and care. In addition, rules for working with children are said to have not been observed. The allegations by the cast and parents were made anonymously. Seidl’s lawyer rejected the allegations against him mirror return.
According to the information, “Sparta” was made between 2018 and 2019. The film about a man with pedophilic tendencies is scheduled to be shown on September 9 at the festival in Toronto, Canada. According to APA, Seidl further said that the reported incidents were taken out of context. His way of working is thus “defamed and I am accused of having intentions that could not be further from reality”.