00:00American History X is an important work.
00:02A work that still needs to be shown in high schools and universities.
00:06A work which, beyond mere entertainment, is there to raise awareness.
00:09The film is not perfect, obviously, it takes quite a few shortcuts.
00:12We can go back to Derek's redemption and realize that it is presented in a rather easy way.
00:17But no matter, the message is there, it is understandable.
00:20And it's important to understand.
00:21Hate only breeds hate.
00:24But without further ado, let's now talk about post-production.
00:27And there are things to say about the post-production of American History X.
00:30Even during filming, there was a rivalry between star Edward Norton and director Tony Kaye.
00:35This is Tony Kaye's first film, and he originally came from an advertising background.
00:38So naturally, the guy fantasized about that moment.
00:40He wanted his first film to reflect his own image.
00:43And be as perfect as possible.
00:44He wants to do things his way.
00:46And we can't blame him for that.
00:47But Norton doesn't necessarily agree.
00:49And will rewrite certain parts of the script.
00:51The director will edit a first draft of the film.
00:53A version that will last 95 minutes.
00:55Completely raw and unfiltered.
00:57Much more impactful and much less emotional.
01:00But the production company New Line vetoed it.
01:02And the film goes back to the editing room.
01:04This time, Edward Norton is supervising the operations.
01:07He will add an extra 24 minutes to the film.
01:10And will obviously take advantage of this to get more screen time.
01:12He will flesh out his character.
01:14To make him less unlikeable.
01:16And this is where one of the controversies surrounding the film may stem from.
01:19Because the violence is shown there head-on.
01:20It is almost elevated by the character's charisma.
01:23Obviously, these images of Derek with his arms outstretched, proud of his actions, were seized upon by groups
01:28far right.
01:29Elevating the character to the status of an icon.
01:31That was the risk in putting this character forward in this way.
01:34This can, in a way, reverse the message.
01:36And that raises questions about the right way to denounce injustice in a film.
01:39Should we show very little of it, or should we show everything?
01:42Could being too direct actually make something too fascinating?
01:45Edward Norton's editing makes Derek's character more human.
01:48And from that point on, the director disowned the film entirely.
01:51Describing this version as a total abuse of creativity.
01:54He helplessly watches as his own film is being edited.
01:57He slaps his hands against the walls, even his chest, at the sight of what should have been under
02:01its control.
02:01One day he attends the orchestral recording of the film.
02:04He will therefore find himself confronted with certain scenes.
02:06He's going to find it so lame that he'll throw fruit and his own wallet at the screen.
02:10Before leaving.
02:11You should also know that Tony K is a rather strange man.
02:14And rather eccentric in that way.
02:15Even back then he described himself as the greatest English director since Hitchcock.
02:19He will spend $100,000 to place advertising pages in the press.
02:23This is to denounce the behavior of Edward Norton and the producers.
02:26When the production team arranges a meeting with him to find common ground.
02:28The guy is going to show up with a priest, a rabbi and a Tibetan monk at the meeting.
02:33It sounds like the beginning of a bad joke.
02:35New Line will therefore give him 8 more weeks to come up with a new edit.
02:39But strangely, the director did absolutely nothing with it.
02:42He will not offer anything after 8 weeks.
02:44And so naturally, Norton's design will be the final design.
02:47Obviously, faced with this, the director is going to completely lose it.
02:50First, he wants to no longer be credited in the opening titles.
02:52And he will ask the directors' guild to change his name in the credits.
02:56To replace it with Humpty Dumpty.
02:58Which the guild naturally refuses, of course.
03:01Faced with this refusal, he filed a lawsuit for nearly $200 million.
03:05When he learns that the film will be screened at the Toronto Film Festival.
03:08He takes the first plane to put pressure on the festival president.
03:11So that the screening will be cancelled.
03:12Which he actually managed to do.
03:14And that's going to cost a lot for the film's promotion.
03:16Naturally, from that point on, you can imagine that Hollywood will completely sideline him.
03:20He will not be making another film for several years.
03:22And he discovered American History X in 2007.
03:25That's 9 years after its release.
03:26And finally, he admits his mistake, realizing that the proposed version is just as impactful.
03:32and more successful than his own version.
03:34He admits, and these are his words, that he was an immature and self-centered idiot.
03:37Who was only fighting against himself.
03:39But he was, at the time, someone who was very passionate.
03:42And that he felt like he was losing control.
03:43And indeed, we can say that he lost control.
03:45We can't completely blame him either.
03:47Because we know that Hollywood is a meat grinder.
03:49And how complicated it is as an author to put your point of view forward.
03:53And above all, to impose it.
03:54Not everyone makes numbers like Nolan, Scorsese or James Cameron, for example.
03:58Regardless, and despite the fact that the studio imposed creative decisions.
04:01The film is a success.
04:03It is a cult classic today.
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