With Melancholia a few weeks away from settling in at Landmark's Hillcrest Cinemas, director Lars Von Trier has issued a statement vowing never again to talk to the press.

Hard luck for the media. The guy gives great interview, firing off many a potent quotable like, "I understand Hitler…I sympathize with him a bit” and "Israel is a pain in the ass."

The aforementioned declarations, issued during a packed press conference at this year's Cannes Film Festival, resulted in his ouster. I sure do hate to see Von Trier go. Both Matthew and I have taken so much delight in documenting his well-earned fall from grace.

What follows is not only Von Trier's final missive on the Cannes-ban, but what promises to be his last public interview. From now on, let his films do the talking.

"Today at 2pm I was questioned by the Police of North Zealand in connection with charges made by the prosecution of Grasse in France from August 2011 regarding a possible violation of prohibition in French law against justification of war crimes."

"The investigation covers comments made during the press conference in Cannes in May 2011. Due to these serious accusations I have realized that I do not possess the skills to express myself unequivocally and I have therefore decided from this day forth to refrain from all public statements and interviews."

Lars von Trier

Avedøre, 5. October 2011

Melancholia opens Friday, November 18, exclusively at Landmark's Hillcrest Cinemas.