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Success brings bad blood for Babel team

11:28 H | Topics: Controversia - Mexico - Movies

One would think that the success at the Oscars -- at least in the nomination department and overall buzz -- would bring the Mexican creators of Babel together to celebrate their triumph. But in fact, just the opposite has happened. Babel's director, Alejandro González Iñárritu, and its screenwriter, Guillermo Arriaga are now estranged, according to comments made yesterday by González Iñárritu, as reports various media outlets:

The director of Babel, Mexican Alejandro González Iñárritu, severely criticized his countryman Guillermo Arriaga, screenwriter, for attempting to "claim" for himself credit for the entire film. Yesterday a letter from Iñárritu to Arriaga was circulated (to be published in the Mexican magazine Chilango in its next issue) in which the director says that it is "sad" that because of an "unjustified obsession with claiming credit for the entire film", the screenwriter seems to "not know that filmmaking is an art of profound collaboration."

And it's not just Alejandro; the entire team of Babel -- cast and crew (Gael, too!) -- signed the letter that goes on to say:

You weren't -- and you never let yourself feel like -- part of this team, and your comments are lamentable and belittling end to this marvelous and collective process that we have all experienced and are now celebrating.

The letter goes on to charge that in the numerous interviews Arriaga has given to the press "more than recognition of the work we've all done" he has shown "your bitterness and insistent demand for media attention." Damn!

What's the other side of the story? Chilango magazine apparently has it. According to EFE-El País, creative differences had a lot to do with it. While the film version of Babel tells the story of a young deaf Japanese girl, Arriaga's version has her as a blind Spanish girl. He also claims that director took "extreme positions" like referring to the film (and the previous two, written by Arriaga" as "my trilogy". Arriaga says he's surprised that the actors would get involved, but that there are many people who worked on the film who don't agree with the way González Iñárritu "has handled this".

This is so exhausting. My education in film was mostly in Mexico, where borders between film school and the "industry" are blurred, so I have some experience with that world. There are very few players, very little money, and unfortunately this type of infighting isn't just common -- it's the order of the day. What I don't get is that these guys aren't fighting to get their movies made anymore, they are stars, so why the ugly jealousy and competition?

Via / El Pais

Image via ElConfidencial.com