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Born Controversial: The Enigma Of Romain Gavras

We take a look at the director's ability to spark controversy, before he unveils his video for M.I.A.'s 'Bad Girls'.

Posted 2nd February 2012, 1:01pm in Blogs by Jamie Milton
Jamie Milton

Jamie Milton

Writer

Born Controversial: The Enigma Of Romain Gavras Two years back, M.I.A. was in the process of cementing herself as one of the decade’s most influential artists. Following up the career-defining ‘Kala’ was no easy feat, and much of the press for 2010’s ‘Maya’ was based on controversy: The conflicts with journalists; the butt-ugly artwork and more notably, the video for ‘Born Free’.

Personal bias might prevent me from having enjoyed it (being a proud redhead myself) but the Romain Gavras-directed video for the 9-minute-long, abrasive lead single, with its ginger genocide footage, was a touch uncomfortable to watch. Yet if M.I.A. has chosen to shy away from controversy for her fourth album’s promotional campaign, early signs don’t suggest as much. This Friday she’ll unveil the video to her new single, ‘Bad Girls’ and true to form, she’s re-recruited Gavras to direct it.

Gavras is a magnet to controversy. If you don’t remember him for his ‘Born Free’ contribution, chances are you’ll have at least picked up on the sheer outrage that normal people - not just Daily Mail columnists - felt towards his video for Justice’s ‘Stress’. Its anarchic portrayal of gang violence held no punches and even today, Youtube comments argue about its authenticity, whether or not Gavras followed an actual street gang. When asked by Interview Magazine if his footage was intentionally used to spark a ruckus, he replied; "I didn't try to do something controversial, otherwise I would have put whores and Nazis in it."



Gavras seems to happily bask in the controversy, judging by his comments to the Guardian: "I love that a 16-year-old kid from Yugoslavia is sitting behind his computer being so hateful because of something I did." Revelling in the gasps, the speechlessness that collectively meet his videos, you can bet on Gavras’ contribution to M.I.A.’s new song being just as thought-provoking; just as capable of encouraging internet-addicts from sharing their thoughts. Either that, or he’ll play on the controversy, giving us five minutes of complete innocence, just to play with our minds.

Regardless, each of his works to date have been engrossing affairs, brilliantly put-together and utterly unforgettable. He’s one of the few directors who raises eyebrows when his very name is mentioned and for that reason, all of us ought to be waiting with baited breath for whatever accompanies ‘Bad Girls’.

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