Belgian premiere for Kristen Stewart film, ‘Love Lies Bleeding’, ruined by homophobic violence
nme.comLove Lies Bleeding on Saturday (April 13).During a screening of Rose Glass’ latest film, starring Kristen Stewart, a mass walkout occurred following a barrage of abusive comments.According to Variety, more than 60 people left the premiere, which took place at Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival (BIFFF), and screening organisers reported at least three instances of physical violence.The romantic thriller film, which was produced by A24, follows the relationship between a gym manager and an ambitious bodybuilder.
In a four-star review, NME wrote: “Rose Glass, who co-wrote the film with Weronika Tofilska, has delivered a brilliant noir packed with those great pulp ingredients: sex, drugs and violence.”As reported by Variety, some attendees described how “homophobic heckles and jeers” during the films’s sex scenes, and a scene portraying sexual coercion reportedly “drew applause.”One attendee, Elina Fischer, told Variety: “Things spun wildly out of hand.” Describing their experience as “traumatic and horrible,” they added: “We were afraid for our lives, because the kinds of people who say such things during a film screening are the kinds of people who assault us.
So we got scared and had to get out.”Fischer explained the significance of the film and its relation to the incident that unfolded: “This film represents us.
It was made for and by our community, so to have our experience ruined by homophobes is terrible.”They added: “We all feel very sad, shocked and angry, because we feel that our position cannot exist without attack.
