Nick Cave has publicly defended filmmaker Wim Wenders following controversy sparked by the director’s comments at the Berlin International Film Festival earlier this month regarding the role of politics in art. Wenders, serving as Jury President, suggested filmmakers should avoid explicitly political work, arguing their role is as a “counterweight” to politics, not a participant in it.
Cave, a musician and author, responded to Wenders’ remarks in a post on his “Red Hand Files” blog, stating the comments “moved me deeply.” He described Wenders as a “passionately principled, thoughtful, and courageous man” who “cares profoundly about film and the state of the creative world.”
Wenders had stated during a press conference that although films can change perceptions, they are unlikely to alter the views of politicians. He argued that filmmakers should focus on “the work of people, not the work of politicians.” His comments drew criticism, including a planned appearance by Arundhati Roy being withdrawn from the festival, according to reports.
Cave expanded on his support for Wenders, suggesting the director may have been motivated by a desire to protect the integrity of film festivals. He wrote that Wenders might be “trying to save the Berlinale from succumbing to the fate of those festivals that have grow little more than a narrowing of the cultural imagination,” criticizing what he sees as a trend towards events dominated by “a single monolithic ideology – one voice, one cause, one dissent.”
Cave further clarified that he does not believe Wenders advocates for art to ignore injustice. Instead, he believes Wenders, like himself, sees art as possessing a value beyond its utility. “Perhaps he also believes that art is more than the sum of its utility. We see more than a tool or a weapon,” Cave wrote. He posited that great art exists “purely for its own sake,” operating subtly and ambiguously to “enlarge our hearts” and guide audiences towards “what is fine, beautiful, and true.”
This is not the first time Cave has addressed the intersection of art and societal issues. In a 2023 interview with NME, he acknowledged a “correlation between transgressive and bad behaviour and good art,” stating that “the really great stuff is often made by the most problematic people.” He expressed concern about “cancel culture,” arguing it could stifle artistic creation and limit the availability of “good stuff.”
Cave has also publicly stated his detachment from conventional political alignments, declaring in 2026 that he finds both the left and the right “unrecognisable.” He has consistently advocated for open dialogue and the consideration of opposing viewpoints as essential for a healthy society and a means of “liberating the soul of our world.” In 2024, he criticized “woke culture” for its perceived “lack of mercy” and “lack of forgiveness,” and in 2020, he explained his reluctance to incorporate political themes directly into his lyrics in a direct communication with a fan.
