“There is no B plan, no alternative, and this entails consequences, which I’m fully ready to shoulder.”

That’s Javier Bardem, in Cannes discussing his new film The Beloved, which was shot in the Western Sahara. Given the politics of that region and the controversy over Bardem’s recent statements about the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, he was inevitably asked about whether he feared a backlash to his position, and whether the mood about those topics might be changing in Hollywood.

“The fear does exist. Granted that one has to do things, even if you feel a bit scared or afraid
You have to be able to look at yourself in the mirror and look at yourself in the eyes, and that was my case. My mother taught me to be the way I am,” said the Oscar winner.

As for what might happen to him: “There is no B plan, no alternative, and this entails consequences, which I’m fully ready to shoulder. These consequences, well, I’ve heard about this, but as I said yesterday, I can’t corroborate things or provide facts or proofs. You have these denunciations.”

Bardem then spoke about whether the tide is changing in Hollywood.

“I had a whole host of offers in the US, in Europe, in South America and in Spain, and that made me think that in narratives things are changing, and everyone is beginning to realize, thanks to the younger generation, which is more aware of situations, situations we’re experiencing quite directly on our phones and on other screens.”

And while the media can fall prey to both sides-ism, Bardem is unequivocal about one thing.

“Genocide is a fact. You can fight against it, you can try to justify it, explain it. That is a fact,” he said. “If you, if you, you can be against it, or you can justify it. If you justify it with your silence, or with your support, you are brought genocide. Those are facts for me. Now you can face that in different terms of statements. My statement is this one is the power that you all gave me. I don’t have any other power or more power than you guys, but this, and I use it in the best way I know.”

In terms of the conflict itself, Bardem added, “This is unacceptable. It cannot be justified, and there can be no reason, no explanation for this genocide. Therefore, I think that what is happening is quite the contrary. I believe that those who are drawing up the so-called blacklist will actually be exposed, and they are the ones who will be suffering consequences in terms of the public and on a social level, and this is a major change.”