Sean Penn Lashes Out at ‘Creepy Little Bully’ Putin After Berlin Premiere of Volodymyr Zelenskyy Documentary ‘Superpower’

Sean Penn mentioned he was joyful to be a “propagandist” for the Ukrainian conflict effort and known as Russian president Vladimir Putin a “creepy little bully” Saturday in Berlin, after the world premiere of his gonzo documentary “Superpower,” a gripping, courage-under-fire portrait of Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

“This isn’t an unbiased movie as a result of this isn’t an ambiguous conflict,” he mentioned, calling the battle “extraordinarily private.” “I’m very joyful to be thought-about a propagandist. I used to be joyful to make an unbiased movie as a result of that’s the true story we discovered.”

Donning a black jacket and hoodie and sporting a camouflage trucker cap, Penn repeatedly known as on the Biden administration to ship precision, long-range missiles to Kyiv to help the Ukrainian conflict effort.

Praising the braveness of Zelenskyy, Penn lashed out at his Russian counterpart when requested if the filmmakers wished to listen to from Putin, who he described as a “conflict felony.”

“It was fairly clear to us that we weren’t going to permit our movie to be a podium for clear deception,” he mentioned. “I feel we’d have been higher served speaking to a wall.”

“Superpower,” which Penn co-directed with Aaron Kaufman and is produced by Vice, met with a standing ovation Friday night time in Berlin, after its premiere out of competitors as a Berlinale Particular Gala.

Clocking in at just below two hours, the movie follows the Hollywood star as he travels throughout Ukraine within the months earlier than the Russian invasion after which lands a collection of sit-down interviews with Zelenskyy as soon as the conflict begins. Throughout their conversations, the war-time president reveals his frustrations on the lack of help within the type of high-impact weapons obtained from the Biden administration.

In a post-screening Q&A, Penn echoed Zelenskyy’s considerations. “It’s not a lot about what if Ukraine loses, as a result of they gained’t, however … if Russia wins, we’re all fucked. Simply dead-set fucked,” Penn instructed the group. “As Individuals, I can say we’re going to should tackle board a degree of disgrace for not having scaled up sooner with the weapons.”

“Superpower” has been one of many buzziest titles to launch this week in Berlin, with Friday’s premiere coming a day after Penn made a shock look on the opening ceremony, the place Zelenskyy appeared by way of satellite tv for pc to greet festivalgoers and encourage them “to not stay silent” as Ukrainians proceed to struggle for freedom.

“A logical query comes up: On which facet ought to tradition and artwork be?” requested Zelenskyy. “Can artwork be exterior of politics? Ought to cinema be exterior of politics? It’s an everlasting query however at present this can be very [pertinent].”

Although not conceived as a conflict story, however meant to chart Zelenskyy’s path from an actor taking part in Ukraine’s president within the satirical TV collection “Servant of the Folks” to the nation’s real-life chief, “Superpower” rapidly developed from what Penn described as “a venture of caprice” to a gripping profile in braveness after the Russian invasion.