") no-repeat center center;background-size:10px 16px;content:' '}@media(min-width:768px){.gBkjJh::before{display:none}}@media(min-width:1000px){.gdPcRA .taboola{display:none}}.jImJId .tp-container-inner,.jImJId .sc-1suqprf-0{position:relative;box-shadow:0 -22px 16px 22px rgba(255,255,255,0.95)}.jImJId.closed{display:none}.lflWOn{display:block}@media(min-width:768px){.lflWOn{display:block}}.lflWOn:last-child button{margin-right:0}.lflWOn path{stroke:#fff}.jWuEbG button{margin-right:12px}@media(min-width:768px){.jWuEbG{display:none}.jWuEbG button{margin-right:12px}}.hgDTSg{display:flex;position:relative;justify-content:center}@media(min-width:768px){.hgDTSg{justify-content:flex-end;padding-top:12px;margin:0}}.hgDTSg svg{width:60%;height:60%;margin:20%;fill:#fff}.hgDTSg [type='facebook'] svg{width:100%;height:100%;margin:0}.hgDTSg amp-social-share{margin:0 6px;border-radius:50%;background:0;outline:0}.hgDTSg amp-social-share:first-of-type{margin-left:0}.hgDTSg amp-social-share:last-of-type{margin-right:0}@media(min-width:768px){.hgDTSg .share-mobile-only{display:none}}.hgDTSg .amp-social-share-bookmark svg{display:block;width:100%;height:100%;margin:0}.hgDTSg .amp-social-share-bookmark:hover{opacity:.85}.hgDTSg .amp-social-share-facebook{background:#627aac}.hgDTSg .amp-social-share-facebook:hover{background:#9cabcb}.hgDTSg .amp-social-share-twitter{--color:#4e4e4e;--color-alt:#919191;background:var(--color)}.hgDTSg .amp-social-share-twitter:hover{background:var(--color-alt)}.hgDTSg .amp-social-share-whatsapp{background:#25d366}.hgDTSg .amp-social-share-whatsapp:hover{background:#66e093}.hgDTSg .amp-social-share-whatsapp svg{width:70%;height:auto;margin:15%}.hgDTSg .amp-social-share-email{background:#ef4757}.hgDTSg .amp-social-share-email:hover{background:#f58992}.hgDTSg .amp-social-share-email svg path{stroke:#fff}.kdvWjb{display:flex}.sticky .kdvWjb{flex-direction:column}.bfkmcy{overflow:hidden;height:23px;margin-bottom:8px;border-bottom:0;clear:both}@media(min-width:768px){.bfkmcy{height:25px}}.fczuIa{display:inline-block;flex-shrink:0;margin:0 12px 0 0;font:bold 14px/normal 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}.fczuIa::after{content:':'}.IOUwh{display:inline-block;margin-right:12px;margin-bottom:4px;color:#222;font:normal 14px/1.29 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif;text-decoration:underline}.IOUwh::first-letter {text-transform:capitalize}.izpdPv>p{margin:16px 0}.article-premium .izpdPv>p{line-height:27px}.izpdPv>h2{font-size:21px}.article-climate .izpdPv>h2{color:#ec1a2e}.article-sgi .izpdPv>h2{color:#ec1a2e}.izpdPv>p:first-child{margin-top:0}.izpdPv span:first-child~p:first-of-type{margin-top:0}.joBdHo{display:flex;position:relative;max-width:100%;justify-content:center;margin:0 auto;background-color:transparent;clear:both}.teads .joBdHo{display:block}@media(min-width:1000px){.ddbwjn{display:none}}.ddbwjn[data-mpu1]{min-height:600px}.ddbwjn #mpu1{position:sticky;top:16px}.ddbwjn.pb-20{padding-bottom:20px}.hlPMMm{margin:0 0 24px;font:normal 16px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}.euTVax{font:bold 16px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}.jBfdop{overflow:hidden;width:100%;box-sizing:border-box;margin-bottom:16px}@media(min-width:768px){.jBfdop{max-width:634px}}@media(min-width:1250px){.jBfdop{max-width:622px}}.hKRbzg{width:100%;box-sizing:border-box;padding:8px 12px 12px;border-top:8px solid #ec1a2e;background-color:#fde8ea}@media(min-width:768px){.hKRbzg{padding-top:4px;padding-bottom:12px}}.cKIkhp{font:bold 22px/26px 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif;margin:0 0 12px;text-align:center}@media(min-width:768px){.cKIkhp{font:bold 30px/34px 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif;letter-spacing:-0.048px;margin-bottom:12px;text-align:left}}.feSJtK{display:block;margin-bottom:12px}@media(min-width:768px){.feSJtK{display:none}}.bErStG{display:flex;width:100%;box-sizing:border-box;align-items:center;justify-content:center;gap:4px;background-color:#fde8ea;color:#ec1a2e}@media(min-width:768px){.bErStG{width:auto;justify-content:flex-start}}.vaVnf{display:block;font:bold 14px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif;text-decoration-line:underline;margin-block:0;text-align:center}.jWuFRk{display:inline-flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;gap:4px}.jWuFRk:hover .sc-hez36s-5,.jWuFRk:hover .sc-a5wy94-0{color:#ac2a2c}.hKrnEq{font:normal 16px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}.dWUzhG{display:flex;width:100%;flex-direction:column}@media(min-width:768px){.dWUzhG{display:flow-root;gap:24px;transition:margin-bottom .3s ease-in-out}}.bDgIJb{display:flex;width:100%;flex-direction:column;align-items:center;justify-content:center}@media(min-width:768px){.bDgIJb{width:212px;flex-shrink:0;justify-content:flex-start;margin-left:24px;float:right}}.EYumw{display:none;flex-direction:row;align-items:center;justify-content:center;gap:8px;margin-top:8px}@media(min-width:768px){.EYumw{display:flex;margin-top:12px}}.kCOwPr{display:flex;width:100%;align-items:center;justify-content:center;gap:8px;margin-top:8px;margin-bottom:12px}@media(min-width:768px){.kCOwPr{display:none}}.iGXncB{display:flex;overflow:hidden;height:0;flex-direction:column;gap:8px;opacity:0;transition:all .3s ease-in-out}@media(min-width:768px){.iGXncB{display:flex;position:relative;width:auto;height:40px;order:-1;opacity:1;transition-behavior:allow-discrete}.iGXncB::after{--fade-from:rgba(253,232,234,0);--fade-to:#fde8ea;position:absolute;bottom:0;left:0;z-index:1;width:100%;height:40px;background-image:linear-gradient(to bottom,var(--fade-from),var(--fade-to));content:'';opacity:1;transition:opacity 150ms ease-out}}@media(min-width:768px){.doTReP{order:-1}}.ggPDxB{display:none;padding-top:8px;margin-top:16px;border-top:1px solid #919191}@media(max-width:767px){.ggPDxB{display:flex}}.gibhIT{display:none}@media(min-width:768px){.gibhIT{display:flex;position:relative;align-items:flex-start;margin-top:12px}}.iOJCvF.mobile-only{display:block}@media(min-width:1000px){.iOJCvF.mobile-only{display:none}}.iOJCvF.desktop-only{display:none}@media(min-width:1000px){.iOJCvF.desktop-only{display:block;margin-bottom:16px}}.iOJCvF.desktop-only+p{margin-top:0}.blOrrc{width:100%;flex-grow:1}.blOrrc .amp-article-content[amp-access][amp-access-hide]{display:block;overflow:hidden;max-height:360px}.blOrrc .amp-article-content[amp-access][amp-access-hide] .social-share{display:none}.blOrrc .amp-article-content[amp-access][amp-access-hide].show-all-content{max-height:100%}@media(max-width:594px){.blOrrc .amp-article-content[amp-access][amp-access-hide]{max-height:530px}}.blOrrc .amp-newsletter-reg-gate{position:relative;left:-12px;width:calc(100% + 24px)}.blOrrc .social-share{width:100%;padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:20px}@media(min-width:768px){.blOrrc .social-share{justify-content:flex-start}}.blOrrc .social-share.sticky{display:none}@media(min-width:1000px){.blOrrc .social-share.sticky{display:flex;position:sticky;top:14px;width:34px;flex-direction:column;margin-top:0;margin-left:-25%;float:left}.blOrrc .social-share.sticky amp-social-share,.blOrrc .social-share.sticky .sc-mgcah7-0{margin:0 0 16px}.article-feature-video .blOrrc .social-share.sticky{margin-top:0}.article-feature:not(.article-feature-video) .blOrrc .social-share.sticky{margin-top:35%}}.blOrrc.sponsored-article img,.blOrrc.sponsored-article video{width:100%;max-width:602px;height:auto}.blOrrc.sponsored-article iframe{max-width:602px;max-height:400px}.blOrrc .under-article-prompt-donations{padding-bottom:8px;margin-top:-3px}.blOrrc .big-letter{--color:#222;display:flex;position:relative;width:0;height:0;align-items:center;justify-content:center;padding:40px;margin-top:22px;margin-right:12px;border:1px solid var(--color);float:left;font:normal 52px/1 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif;text-transform:uppercase}.blOrrc .big-letter:first-child{margin-top:6px}.blOrrc .big-letter::before{position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;box-sizing:border-box;border:1px solid var(--color);border-radius:50%;content:''}.blOrrc #taboola-below-article-1{min-height:2350px}@media(min-width:768px){.blOrrc #taboola-below-article-1{min-height:3370px}}.blOrrc #taboola-below-article-1-split-num-1{min-height:130px}@media(min-width:768px){.blOrrc #taboola-below-article-1-split-num-1{min-height:415px}}.blOrrc .sc-fwko30-0+.sc-1xtsh2b-0{margin-top:-16px}@media(min-width:768px){.blOrrc{max-width:636px;margin:0}}@media(min-width:1000px){.blOrrc{max-width:624px;margin:0}.blOrrc.subscribed{max-width:636px}}@media(max-width:999px){.blOrrc{padding-right:0}.blOrrc .under-article-prompt-donations{margin-top:-18px}}.kvSKnI{display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;justify-content:flex-start;margin-bottom:8px;color:#646464;font:normal 16px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}@media(min-width:768px){.kvSKnI{width:70%;align-items:center;justify-content:flex-start;margin-bottom:0;font:normal 16px/24px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}}@media(min-width:1000px){.kvSKnI{width:70%;margin-bottom:0}}.fKGvbc{display:flex;height:20px;margin:0 12px 8px 0}.fKGvbc::before{display:inline-block;align-self:center;margin-top:1px;margin-right:12px;content:'\2022';transform:scale(1.5)}.fKGvbc:first-child::before{content:none}@media(min-width:768px){.fKGvbc{height:24px;margin-bottom:0}.fKGvbc::before{margin-top:2px}}.fKGvbc time{display:block}.fKGvbc time::first-letter {text-transform:capitalize}.eUdsoy{color:#fff}.jGlqRq{display:inline-block;margin:0 12px 8px 0;color:#ef4757;font:bold 16px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif;letter-spacing:-0.5px}.jGlqRq:hover,.jGlqRq:active{color:#f58992}@media(min-width:768px){.jGlqRq{margin-bottom:0}}.enHDwq{margin:0 4px 8px 0}.enHDwq::before{display:inline-block;margin-top:2px;margin-right:12px;color:#646464;content:'\2022';transform:scale(1.5)}.enHDwq:first-child::before{display:none}@media(min-width:768px){.enHDwq{margin-bottom:0}}.jmYqVV::before{color:#fff}.hfnwMY{display:flex;justify-content:flex-start;padding:0;margin:0 0 16px}@media(min-width:768px){.hfnwMY{display:flex;width:30%;align-items:center;justify-content:flex-end;margin:0}}@media(min-width:1000px){.hfnwMY{width:30%}}.hrDjjf{padding-top:0;border-top:0;border-bottom:0}@media(min-width:768px){.hrDjjf{display:flex;flex-flow:row wrap;padding-bottom:16px}.hrDjjf .sc-1qz44j0-0{order:1}.hrDjjf .sc-1qz44j0-10{order:2}}@media(min-width:1000px){.hrDjjf{flex-direction:row}}.dnLbAr{padding:16px 12px 12px;text-align:left;font:bold 14px/18px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}@media(min-width:768px){.dnLbAr{padding:16px 16px 12px}}.article-infact .dnLbAr{padding:16px 0}@media(min-width:1000px){.dnLbAr{padding:24px 0 19px}.article-feature .dnLbAr{max-width:968px;margin:0 auto}}.dnLbAr a{color:#fff}.dnLbAr a:hover{color:#f58992}.dnLbAr a:hover::after{color:#fff}.dnLbAr a::after{margin-right:4px;margin-left:4px;content:'>'}.dnLbAr a:last-child::after{display:none}.azcVx{margin:0 0 20px;letter-spacing:0}.VFZbw{margin:0;color:#646464;font:normal 16px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}@media(min-width:768px){.VFZbw{font:normal 18px/22px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}}@media(min-width:1000px){.VFZbw{font:normal 20px/24px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}}.VFZbw p{font:inherit}.article-feature .VFZbw a{font-weight:bold}.hsJCLD{max-width:968px;margin:0 auto;background:#222}@media(min-width:1000px){.hsJCLD{padding:0 16px}.parallax .hsJCLD{max-width:1240px}}.bJjAgi{font:bold 32px/36px 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif;letter-spacing:-0.0156em}@media(min-width:768px){.bJjAgi{font:bold 44px/48px 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif;letter-spacing:-0.0113em}}@media(min-width:1000px){.bJjAgi{font:bold 54px/58px 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif;letter-spacing:-0.0092em}}.hZFQIi{background:#222}.hZFQIi .sc-qvufca-1{max-width:968px;background:#222}.hZFQIi .sc-qvufca-0{margin:0}@media(max-width:999px){.hZFQIi .sc-qvufca-0{margin:0 12px 0}}.hZFQIi .sc-22qwnu-0,.hZFQIi .sc-22qwnu-0 a{color:#fff}.hZFQIi .sc-qvufca-2,.hZFQIi .sc-aeekvc-0{color:#fff}.hZFQIi .sc-qvufca-2{margin:0 0 20px}.hZFQIi .sc-aeekvc-0{margin-bottom:16px}@keyframes slidedown-video{from{transform:translateY(-100%)}to{transform:translateY(0)}}@keyframes slideup-video{from{transform:translateY(200%)}to{transform:translateY(0)}}.ghXxSp .video-top-container-inner{position:relative}.ghXxSp .video-popout-close{display:none}.ghXxSp .video-hero-wrapper-inner{display:block}.ghXxSp .video-hero-video{width:100%;margin:0;transition:height .2s}.ghXxSp .video-hero-wrapper.sticky-video{position:fixed;top:95px;width:400px;margin-left:-332px;transition:margin-left .3s,top .3s .1s}.ghXxSp .video-top-container.video.sticky:not(.closed) .video-hero-video{position:static;right:0;left:auto;width:100%}.ghXxSp .video-top-container.video.sticky:not(.closed) .video-hero-video.liveblog{margin-left:-12px}@media(min-width:768px){.ghXxSp .video-top-container.video.sticky:not(.closed) .video-hero-video{position:absolute;width:400px}}@media(min-width:1000px){.ghXxSp .video-top-container.video.sticky:not(.closed) .video-hero-video{top:94px;right:-56px}.ghXxSp .video-top-container.video.sticky:not(.closed) .video-hero-video.liveblog{right:-400px}}.ghXxSp .video-top-container.video.sticky:not(.closed) .video-hero-video .video-sticky-video{position:fixed;top:0;left:auto;z-index:9;width:100%;background-color:#fff;box-shadow:0 0 40px 10px rgba(0,0,0,0.5)}@media(min-width:768px){.ghXxSp .video-top-container.video.sticky:not(.closed) .video-hero-video .video-sticky-video{width:400px;animation:slidedown-video .4s}}@media(min-width:1000px){.ghXxSp .video-top-container.video.sticky:not(.closed) .video-hero-video .video-sticky-video{top:auto;bottom:0;animation:slideup-video .4s}}.ghXxSp .video-top-container.video.sticky:not(.closed) .video-popout-close{display:none;width:100%;box-sizing:border-box;align-items:center;justify-content:flex-end;padding:4px 8px 3px;color:#222;cursor:pointer;font-family:'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:14px}@media(min-width:1000px){.ghXxSp .video-top-container.video.sticky:not(.closed) .video-popout-close{justify-content:flex-start}}.ghXxSp .video-top-container.video.sticky:not(.closed) .video-popout-close::after{display:flex;align-items:center;padding-left:4px;content:'\2715';font-size:12px}.ghXxSp .video-top-container.video.sticky:not(.closed) .video-popout-close.shown{display:flex}.rdSkV{max-width:100%}.DduFK{position:relative}.hBOwuD{position:relative;width:100%;padding-top:56.25%;background:#000}.fSyNsa{display:flex;position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;align-items:center;justify-content:center}.cZXjIc{width:10%}.bFEGho.fullscreen{position:fixed;top:0;left:0;z-index:3000000000;width:100%;height:100%;background:#000}.bFEGho .closebtn{display:none;position:absolute;top:0;right:0;width:100px;height:100px}.bFEGho .closebtn.show{display:block}.bFEGho .btn{position:absolute;top:5px;right:5px;width:25px;height:25px;color:#fff;font-family:helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:20px;line-height:25px;text-align:center}.JCJLP{max-width:100%;clear:both}.dyGKzS{--bleed:12px;display:flex;box-sizing:border-box;flex-direction:row;gap:32px;padding:16px var(--bleed);background-color:#fff}.article-liveblog .dyGKzS{background-color:#f7f7f7}@media(min-width:768px){.dyGKzS{--bleed:0;max-width:1000px;margin:0 auto}}@media(min-width:1000px){.dyGKzS{--bleed:16px;max-width:1000px;padding:var(--bleed)}}.gIldS{overflow:hidden;height:0;color:transparent}.kFPmfF{max-width:100%;margin:0 0 20px}.kFPmfF.sticky{position:sticky;top:16px}.iaRZct{min-height:600px}.iaRZct #mpu1{position:sticky;top:16px}.jAzEot{max-width:100%}.eDScvc{margin:0 0 6px;color:#646464;font-family:'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif;font-size:15px}.CmSgF{margin:0 0 12px}.lbFVDq{height:380px}.bsSHYO{width:100%;height:51px}.bjKtIv{margin-bottom:16px;border-bottom:1px solid #919191}.jLzsCV{margin-bottom:16px}.jLzsCV [role='listitem']{position:relative;margin-bottom:12px;border-bottom:1px solid #d3d3d3}.jLzsCV [role='listitem'] .sc-u4n1j-0{display:flex;position:absolute;bottom:16px;left:10px;width:32px;height:32px;align-items:center;justify-content:center;border-radius:50%;background-color:#ec1a2e}.jLzsCV [role='listitem'] .sc-u4n1j-0>svg{width:90%;fill:#fff;stroke:transparent}.jLzsCV [role='listitem']:first-child{display:block;padding-bottom:0;margin-bottom:12px}.jLzsCV [role='listitem']:first-child .sc-u4n1j-0{top:-15px;bottom:auto;left:12px;width:35px;height:35px}.jLzsCV [role='listitem']:first-child>*:first-child{display:block;width:100%;height:205px}.jLzsCV [role='listitem']:first-child>*:last-child{position:absolute;bottom:0;width:100%;padding:28px 12px 12px;background:linear-gradient(to top,#222 50%,rgba(34,34,34,0.9) 100%) no-repeat;color:#fff;font-size:17px;font-weight:bold}.jLzsCV [role='listitem']:last-child{margin-bottom:0;border-bottom:0 none}@media(max-width:767px){.eKzHlQ{display:none}}.iFeFcz{width:308px}.iFeFcz.hidden{display:none}@media(max-width:999px){.iFeFcz{display:none}}.article-liveblog .fbWdwj{background-color:#f7f7f7}.eFgmkR{justify-content:center}.cvujVr{justify-content:center}
Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.
Not now Yes please
Culture Film News The Painted Bird released: The ‘savage’ Second World War drama that prompted mass festival walkouts New film looks just as horrifying as its source material
Your support helps us to tell the story From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference. Close Read more A controversial film that’s been branded one of the most brutal Second World War films of all time has been released for all to see.
Ever since its festival debut in 2019, The Painted Bird has been both praised and criticised for refusing to shy away from the horrors featured in Jerzy Kosiński’s source material.
Those who have read the novel won’t be surprised – it shows the war through the eyes of a young boy, who witnesses depravity in the form of incest, bestiality and rape.
Going by the reviews of Václav Marhoul’s adaptation, the Czech film is a “savage three-hour tour of hell”, with critic Xan Brooks even stating he hopes to "never cross its path again.”
The Independent called it “a circus of the grotesque without cause or direction”.
According to those who were present at The Painted Bird ’s Venice Film Festival premiere in September 2019, it was so shocking that more than half of its audience walked out midway through.
The black-and-white film stars, among others, Stellan Skarsgård, Harvey Keitel and Udo Kier, and was set to be released in the UK on 27 March.
It was delayed until September because of Covid-19.
Film festivals have a long history of cinema walkouts. The most recently occurred at Berlinale 2020 during a screening of Trouble with Being Born, which depicts a sexualised relationship between an adult man and an android that looks like a 10-year-old girl.
Thank you for registering Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in Please refresh your browser to be logged in
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments