Spanish director Pedro Almodóvar criticizes the Oscars ceremony for what he describes as a lack of political engagement. Speaking ahead of the Cannes premiere of his new film, “Bitter Christmas,” Almodóvar reflects on this year’s Oscar telecast and says he noticed few public demonstrations or addresses related to the war in Gaza. He also points to former U.S. president Donald Trump as another issue he believes received limited attention during the event. Almodóvar says Hollywood appears reluctant to speak out, describing it as “too frightened” to address contentious political subjects. While he does not single out a specific person or organization, he frames his comments around the overall atmosphere of the Oscars and what he views as minimal visible dissent. His remarks are presented in the context of his ongoing public statements surrounding politics in cultural spaces, including discussions tied to the release and festival run of his latest work.