The murder of Dutch filmmaker Theo van Gogh by an Islamic extremist in 2004, followed by the publishing of twelve satirical cartoons depicting the prophet Mohammed that was commissioned for the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten, provides the incendiary framework for Daniel Leconte's provocative documentary, It's Hard Being Loved by Jerks.
Direction
Leconte turns trial footage into white-knuckle political theater.
Writing
Witty French intellectuals weaponizing eloquence under oath.
Director
Daniel LeConte
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The cartoons were commissioned specifically to test self-censorship—editors suspected illustrators feared Islamic backlash. The experiment worked too well.
François Hollande appears pre-presidency defending the cartoons; years later as President, he'd march after the 2015 Charlie Hebdo massacre he saw coming.
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