It was Rupert Grint‘s turn to talk politics as he and the Nightborn cast hit Berlin in back-to-back star-studded pressers Saturday afternoon.
The Harry Potter star followed a host of talent screening their films at the Berlinale, including Pamela Anderson, Callum Turner (who addressed those Bond rumors), and Charli xcx (waving goodbye to “Brat” in Aidan Zamiri’s The Moment).
In Hanna Bergholm’s Nightborn, Saga (Seidi Haarla) and her British husband Jon (Grint), have moved to an isolated house in Finland and dream of raising a family there. When they find out they’re expecting, Saga and Jon are over the moon — but the newborn is not like other children, and Saga soon suspects a disturbing truth about their baby that threatens to tear the marriage apart.
At the press conference for the film, Grint, who unpacked the film in depth with The Hollywood Reporter this week, was joined by director-writer Bergholm, wearing a watermelon pin in support of Palestine, and co-star Haarla, as well as co-screenwriter Ilja Rautsi, producer Daniel Kuitunen, and composer Eicca Toppinen.
“I think it is important to shine a light on whatever issues we are facing because art is all about empathy,” began Rautsi, when asked about world politics, war, and the rise of fascism. “Politicians or millionaires who don’t do anything but cause problems, it’s maybe good to create some form of pressure, or just to get people aware of whatever is happening in the world, what are the wrongs that are taking place in Ukraine or genocide in Palestine.”
Bergholm concurred and replied to a question about why she is wearing a watermelon pin: “Of course, every film can’t be about every topic in the world, and it doesn’t need to be,” the Finnish filmmaker said. “But as grown-up human beings, I think we have a responsibility to speak up against violence and against injustice, because not speaking up is also a choice… We don’t tell other fellow artists that they shouldn’t speak up.”
Grint was then asked about previously condemning the anti-trans stance of Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling, and whether he has considered commenting on “the rise of fascism in Great Britain” as a Brit. He replied, “Obviously, I’m against it, but I mean, I choose my moments when to speak but yeah, it’s obviously hugely relevant now. I think, yeah… You’ll hear from me.”
European journalists here at the Berlinale have expressed disapproval about talent’s shying away from politics so far this festival, with jury president Wim Wenders, Golden Bear recipient Michelle Yeoh and Sunny Dancer star Neil Patrick Harris declining to comment on U.S. politics, and instead saying politics should be separate from cinema. Indian author Arundhati Roy (The God of Small Things) pulled out of the fest entirely on Friday in response to comments by Wenders that “art should not be political.”