‘Diana’ Director ‘Devastated’ By Negative Reviews, But Has No Regrets

The director of the new biopic Diana,says he was “devastated” by the negative reviews with which his film was received, but has no regrets about making the film.

Oliver Hirschbiegel talked to the BBC about the controversial movie that depicts the last two years of Princess Diana’s life and focuses on her love affair with heart surgeon Dr. Hasnat Khan.

Critics in the UK have slammed the movie. Some of the reviews called the new film “awful” and “cheerless”.

The German director says even though the negativity surrounding the film has hurt earnings, he had hoped that audiences could make up their own minds.

He adds that in countries other than the UK, his flick on the “People’s Princess” has been received positively.

“I think for the British, Diana is still a trauma they haven’t come to terms with.” Hirschbiegel adds.

Speaking about making the movie, Diana’s director says he has no regrets about making the film and compared it with a previous biopic he directed, Downfall, about Adolf Hitler.

Diana “was the most complex character I have ever tried to depict – more complex than Hitler. The one thing they both had in common was they were born actors.” Hirchbiegel states.

The film had a dismal opening at the British box office, earning £623,000 and coming in at No. 5 at the box office. The following week Diana dropped to No. 9.

Hirschbiegel hopes that, in time, audiences will appreciate his film.

He had some choice words for some British publications while answering questions at the Zurich Film Festival, comparing the reaction to the film “to what newspapers like the Daily Mail would write about her back then – really vile things. So I guess I succeeded.”

Diana’s director is hoping that audiences in the US will receive his movie in a more positive way when it opens on November 1. Naomi Watts stars as Princess Di.