After two years in which international film festivals often became platforms for criticism of Israel, Natalie Portman offered a note of optimism Monday, celebrating the agreement to return hostages and end the war in Gaza.
At an event held in her honor during the Lumière Film Festival in Lyon, France, the Israeli-born American actress shared her excitement over what she described as historic developments in the Middle East. Speaking before an audience of about 2,000 people at the city’s main auditorium, Portman said: “It’s a monumental day.”
In a conversation with festival director Thierry Frémaux, who also heads the prestigious Cannes Film Festival, Portman reflected on her deep connection to Israel and to recent events. “I’m from Jerusalem, I was born in Jerusalem, so today is a very emotional day,” she said. “To see the end of the war today, and the release and exchange of prisoners and hostages, is truly monumental. It feels almost crazy to talk about anything other than celebrating, hopefully, peace.”
Portman, 44, is currently in the midst of promoting the French animated film Arco, for which she serves as an executive producer. She arrived in Lyon as a guest of the festival, which hosted a retrospective in her honor. Known as both a strong supporter of Israel and a vocal critic of its government, Portman spoke about her growing desire to pursue more uplifting and lighthearted creative projects, a shift from the darker films that have marked parts of her career.
“I definitely feel the need to add more positivity to the world right now,” she said. “We made Arco, which is a very hopeful film and fitting for our times. The last two films I produced and starred in are comedies — The Gallerist and Good Sex, which will be released next year — so I’m definitely leaning toward the light these days.”