Oscar-winning master filmmaker Oliver Stone made striking statements about American foreign policy and war culture at the event held at Casa del Cinema in Rome, the capital of Italy. Speaking during the screening of his 1989 masterpiece "Born on the Fourth of July", Stone targeted the ongoing militaristic approach of the USA.
According to the news reported by the Italian newspaper La Repubblica, Stone said, "America has a hunger for war, it is like a structural need of the country. I think this is the saddest thing I have seen in my life." Stating that this situation is largely absurd, the director emphasized that his country was deeply injured by these policies.
"We Are Back to Our Bad Habits"
Stone, one of the most important anti-war figures of his generation and who personally took part in the Vietnam War, pointed out that no historical lessons had been learned from past conflicts. The director, who is the creator of cult films such as Platoon and JFK, stated that American society and politics have entered a dangerous path again.
Summarizing the current global and political atmosphere with the words "We have returned to our bad habits, and these habits continue," Stone warned that the United States has strayed onto a much more warlike path since the release of his film in 1989.
The master director ended his warnings with these striking words: "I hope people watch this movie, remember it and learn from it. Otherwise, we will find ourselves in a much bigger and worse war. And the pain that will be experienced will be much deeper."