The Dalí Foundation, which has not given its approval to the film, states that “it reserves the right to take any legal action it deems appropriate”
The actor Ben Kingsley has contracted covid, which has prevented him from attending the world premiere of his latest film, ‘Dalíland’which took place this Saturday night at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).
Kingsley was scheduled to walk the TIFF red carpet along with the director of the film, Mary Harron, and other interpreters of the film that focuses on the life of the Spanish artist Salvador Dalíand his wife Gala, in the New York of 1973.
Harron explained to the Roy Thomson Hall audience attending the film’s premiere, that Kingsley canceled his appearance at the last minute after having contracted covid.
Kingsley’s publicist later reported that the actor It is in good condition.
The Canadian director, author of films like ‘I Shot Andy Warhol’ (1996) or ‘American Psycho’ (2000), also said that the co-star of the film, Barbara Sukowa, who plays Gala, was also unable to attend the gala due to a broken ankle.
The premiere of the film in which the actors also take part Ezra Miller, Christopher Briney, Rupert Graves, Alexander Beyer, and Andreja Pejicamong others, has been surrounded by controversy.
The Gala-Salvador Dalí Foundation of Figueres (Spain), founded by the artist to promote his workhas denounced that the film, whose screenwriter is John C. Walsh, It opens without your approval.
In a statement issued on September 6, the foundation, which manages the artist’s work and image rights, said that “Haven’t had a chance to watch it previously and to exercise their functions as responsible for protecting the work and image of the painter”.
In fact, the foundation learned of the film’s premiere through the media. Despite trying to contact the film’s production companies, Pressman Film and Zephyr Films, the Dalí Foundation received no response.
The institution added that “reserves the right to exercise the legal actions it deems appropriate to safeguard the good name of the artist, his creative activity, the Dalí Theatre-Museum in Figueres and the Dalí Foundation”.
For his part, a spokesman for the production companies told the publication ‘Deadline’ that “The film does not incorporate any material protected by copyright.” and that they have the right to make the film and tell the story.
The controversy with the Gala-Salvador Dalí Foundation is not the only one in the film.
The inclusion of Ezra Miller, who in the film represents Dalí in his youth, has also been controversial for the legal problems in which the American actor is immersed.
Harron has excused Miller’s absence from Toronto to accompany the film due to his “complicated mental health issues”.
In recent months, Miller has been arrested several times in the United States for robbery, assault and threats. In addition, he has been accused by several parents of harassing their children and providing drugs to minors.
Given Miller’s situation, the promotional material for ‘Dalíland’ has avoided making any mention of the actor’s performance and even his name does not appear on the information page of the film in TIFF.