Oscar winning Spanish director Pedro Almodovar says that Italy under
Berlusconi and the Pope is becoming a nightmare for the rest of Europe.

(EU) MADRID, SPAIN (MAY 9, 2008) REUTERS -

 Spanish film director Pedro Almodovar said on Friday (May 09) that
Italy has become a nightmare for the rest of Europe under the rule of Prime
Minister Silvio Berlusconi and the Pope.
    As an Italian journalist started asking him a question in English about
the influence of Italian cinema in his work, Almodovar interrupted her by
saying: "It is becoming a nightmare, honey, for the rest of Europe."
Then he said in Spanish to other journalists: "I just told her that her
country is becoming a nightmare for the rest of Europe and for Italy
itself."
    "Despite the fact that Berlusconi and the Pope rule Italy, along
with a type of society that simply can't understand, Italian culture has
always interested me, and still interests me now," he added.
    Almodovar made the comments during a news conference held with Spanish
actress Penelope Cruz and other cast members to discuss his new film
"Broken Embraces."
    Almodovar, one of Spain's best-known directors, has also been a vocal
critic of the Iraqi war.
    He has two Oscars to his name - best foreign language film for
"All About My Mother" in 2000 and best original screenplay for
"Talk to Her" in 2002.