tech
March 10, 2026
Gus Van Sant: ‘My assistant wanted to erect a statue of Luigi Mangione. My generation thought: this is murder’
The Milk and Good Will Hunting director’s new film is about ‘a little guy’ taking violent revenge against the system. He talks about the parallels between Dead Man’s Wire and the homicide case currently dividing Gen Z and boomers
TL;DR
- Gus Van Sant's new film, 'Dead Man's Wire,' is based on the 1977 Indianapolis hostage crisis involving Tony Kiritsis.
- The film explores the parallels between the 1977 case and the December 2024 homicide of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
- Van Sant observes a generational divide in the public's reaction to the recent homicide, with younger people potentially seeing the alleged killer as a hero, while older generations view it as murder.
- The director discusses the influence of media and public perception on how such events are interpreted.
- Van Sant reflects on his career, his early encounters with Pier Paolo Pasolini, and his cinematic influences, including Béla Tarr.
- The casting of 'Dead Man's Wire' is discussed, particularly the choice to cast a younger, more conventionally attractive actor as Tony Kiritsis.
- The article touches on Van Sant's directorial style, characterized by calmness and patience, and his ability to handle sensitive subjects.
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