GERMAN FILM FUND SUPPORTS TOM CRUISE/ STAUFFENBERG FILM WITH 4,800,000 EUROS.

Let's see, the German military oppose the film. The German Film Fund supports it....

Who should Germany pay attention to? Its thinkers or its shooters?

Following the German military has proven...historically unprofitable.

The German people can begin to hold their heads higher now that the voice of free speech has been underscored -- and financially underwritten -- by their own Film Fund.

Pad and Pencil, Los Angeles, USA

Even though I hate that cult called SCIENTOLOGY,I don't like the idea that TOM CRUISE should't shoot the movie in the military site of BENDERBLOCK. He is a great actor and just because is a SCIENTOLOGIST this doesn't mean that he will promote the cult in the movie or anything like that.So while I give all my support to the german governmant about the danger of scientology I also desagree with the government decision about TOM CRUISE not shooting the movie

massimiliano, london, england

I agree with SouthPark: Tom Cruise is OK as an actor, but not as good as Leonardo de Caprio (heh heh). I could care less what films he's in and haven't watched one of his flicks since Top Gun -an homage to complete BS and completely lacking in any reality whatsoever (kind of like L Ron Hubbard).

Scientology is a cult. If T.C. or any other Hollywood actor is a spokesman for your particular "religion" that's plenty of evidence that it's a cult.

Scott, Durham, NC, USA

GERMAN FILM FUND SUPPORTS TOM CRUISE/ STAUFFENBERG FILM WITH 4,800,000 EUROS.

Let's see, the German military oppose the film. The German Film Fund supports it....

Who should Germany pay attention to? Its thinkers or its shooters?

Following the German military has proven...historically unprofitable.

The German people can begin to hold their heads higher now that the voice of free speech has been underscored -- and financially underwritten -- by their own Film Fund.

Periscope, Los Angeles, USA!

Well, let's just turn it around and see what would happen if Tom Cruise wanted to come to the UK to play the role of Churchill and film in some of the UK's most historically sensitive locations. I don't think the British media and cultural establishment would be relaxed about that. It's even more sensitive with Germany because they have to be extremely careful as to how they manage the historical legacy of the war. They have to be very active in guarding the memory of the few heroes who did stand up to the Nazis.

As for Berlin regarding "Scientology as a totalitarian and exploitative cult masquerading as a religion, an intolerant “in-club” of racial purists" - it's not just Berlin! The vast majority of governments around the world have serious reservations about the "Church" of Scientology and it has not been given church status in the UK for that reason.

MB, Edinburgh,

Why are all these posters from LA? Is this an official response from the Scientology zombies?

Maude, Milwaukee, WI/ USA

Scientology has served me and my family very well for many years.

Scientology is not really a "belief system" that asks you to "believe in" things you can't see or test.

It's a very practical religion whose teachings you can go right out and test the same day. That's why it attracts engineers, CPAs, creative artists and writers, business people, right on down to waitresses and laborers. It attracts people who carea bout producing results inlife and by helping others.

Each person learns at his own pace and increases his ability to handle the problems that life, job and family can throw at you. What absolutely cruel moron could find a quarrel with that?

Anybody who complains about Scientology is only scared to death that others can get wise enough to see through him to his hollow insides, and will know his for the unproductive, quietly evil fake that he must be to criticize Scientology.

That sounds a lot like the German government, living off people's sky-high taxes!

Periscope, Los Angeles, USA!

i agree that Cruise should not be discriminated against because he is a scientologist. However, things aren't as easy as that. Cruise has been more that just a practising scientologist, he is a poster boy for it. He speaks out about it's beliefs and even critizised and ridicules others beliefs. Scientology's methods cannot go unnoticed as many of its 'courses' contain techniques of brainwashing. No one has a right to force their beliefs on anyone else, but it is a practise of Scientology, even if they like to disguise it. It should be monitored.

elf, london,

The last time I looked, America was a place where people who had experienced religious oppression came to be free to practice their beliefs.
Let's stick to the facts about Mr. Cruise and his career. 1. He has come by his fame due to hard work and excellent films that make money for the studios that finance them; 2. He leads a clean life (no drugs or alcohol; 3. He helped finance and lend his time and efforts to a program that has literally saved the lives of firemen and emergency workers who were at Ground Zero in NYC right after 9/11; 4. He is married and has 3 children and none of the kids are anything but well behaved, smart and taught to handle responsibility. These are the qualities of most good people doing their jobs, raising their families and doing an honest day's work. Oh and one more thing, he employs hundreds of people when he makes a film. 'Nuff said.

C. Percy, Los Angeles, , USA / CALIF

I read a lot of stuff about Tom Cruises religion but the funny thing is he is perfectly fine to me in comparison to all these other celebrities that are doing really bad stuff and being really bad role models especially to young girls. He is a tough dude and seems unfazed by media

Fruitloops, Chesapeak, Maine

I've been a Scientologist for more than 20 years and in case you didn't know Tom Cruise has been a Scientologist for about 20 years too - he has made his best movies during those years and he still was a scientologist. And today nothing has changed - he is as scientologist as he used to be.

I am very accurate when I say that 99% of what I've read or heard about scientology in the media during this time have been just lies and nonsenses. I have never seen in scientology anything the media been publishing - they are just lies. And it's actually very funny to hear the things they say. One thing I must recognise: the people who write those stories have quite an imagination!

Joxe Arkaitz, Clearwater,

This growing trend of forgiving or refusing to condemn anyones "beliefs" no matter how harmful, misanthropic, deluded or devisive due to the "inherent sanctity" of a personal belief is misguided. Personal beliefs can obviously be dangerous and even more harm can occur when they are shared and supported by likeminded people. Scientology is morally bankrupt and does cause real harm to individuals and we should support Germany's foresight in banning the promotion and proselytising of scientology rather than falling back on the reckless hand wringing arguement of "its only a belief".

E cross, Sutton,

Kalista- is that you wicked?

James Lightfield-always a pleasure. This thread will *not* be handled.

Red Pill, tulsa,

I have no problem with anyone's religious preference even if it is wiccan. I didn't even know some dude attempted to kill Hitler and I probably wouldn't care either if it wasn't for the fact that Tom Cruise might play the role of that man. I probably wouldn't be tempted to watch it either if some other dude was attached to this project. I think that Tom Cruise playing this role is gonna make a lot of us learn something new about history and its definitely gonna put this stauffenburg dude in history textbooks in America cause I never heard of him before until now. I think anybody who speaks out against pharmaceutical drugs is gonna be attacked , if it had been somebody other than TC, I think the media would have chosen to not give them press atttention, but because it was a big star like Tom Cruise they had to do the opposite they had to keep him in the media but stomp him down and concoct bizarre stories about him and his religious beliefs instead of giving him some credit or backing.

Kalista, Los Angeles, California

Tom Cruise rules no matter what he does, more controversy more interested I am in the man!

Luther, Los Angeles, California

"... It’s well-known that Berlin regards Scientology as a totalitarian and exploitative cult masquerading as a religion, an intolerant “in-club” of racial purists.". I find this latter tidbit rather bizarre: I am Puerto Rican, my 'auditor' is Jewish, and I see plently of blacks and central americans in my church.
Most of the detractors remind me of the hominids of
'2001 a Space Odessey' poking at a monolith with a leg bone.
Germany has long had the repute of being on the wrong side of history and when this controversy blows over, it will be just a footnote.

Al, Astoria, ny

All in all, congratulations on a well-researched and well-written article.
I do have to say, I have heard my religion (Scientology) called a number of odd things, but "an intolerant “in-club” of racial purists" has got to take the cake. There is nothing "racial" about Scientology. I also think it's hilarious to use the expression "racial purists" used to describe Scientology in the context of Germany and its policies.

Greg, Las Vegas, USA

Germany, partly due to its Nazi past, may be one of the most paternalistic states in Europe. They just don´t trust their citizens to be reasonable or clever enough to withstand the powers of some populist, greedy organization. Yes, Germany is a nanny state. The officials who will not let Cruise film, do believe in their cause. They honestly think they need to protect us Germans from this one Scientology actor. it´s a bit sad really. However, most people do think it is a bit crazy to lead this weird crusade against Cruise. Not only for economic reasons (Berlin as the new German film/media capital), but mainly because it seems exaggerated and laughable. That may also be the main difference between Serbia and Germany. There is lively public debate over this issue, it is all over the newspapers, as Germany is a democratic, pluralist country, after all.

Rico , Berlin, Germany

The issue is not Scientology the belief, it is Scientology the Church. Look at any of its critics (even Travolta in the late 70's - though the church hushed him up) and at each point it is the Management. Be it LRH, David Miscavige, or Mike Rinder (Office of Special Affairs), at every step there is controversy in the way the manage the church and its growing list of critics and former members.

Tom Cruise should not be their scapegoat, they should use the opportunity to 1) get Cruise willing to talk about management and make changes 2) perhaps use said discussion quell the anger many of its critics have (which honestly stems from the reaction the church takes to critics and former members in their ‘fair game’ policies). Chances of this are unlikely considering the ties between David Miscavige and Cruise, then again that's exactly what he wanted when he courted Cruise in 1989.

Charles M, Nashville, USA, TN

Ken Russel, you have absolutely no right to comment on this case. This is something between the Germans and the makers of this film. The Germans have every reason to distrust Hollywood when it comes to films about the WOII (the portrayel of Schindler was horrendous). And the Germans do NOT worship Von Stauffenberg, I doubt many Germans even know him. The members of the White Rose are far more know and far more 'worshipped'. And don't forget that until a short while ago the Germans couldn't even admit that these people ever existed because all Germans were 'bad' in WOII. Ofcourse they are going to complain about Cruise playing Von Stauffenberg because he looks nothing, and I mean absolutely nothing, like him. But saying that could be considered discrimination against short people by some, so they had to come up with another excuse, hadn't they?

Karen, Barendrecht,

A fine commentary that really puts into focus how some in authority use their position to forward personal prejudice while creating discord and distrust.

Incidentally, L Ron Hubbard was an avid admirer of Tesla whom Hubbard acknowledged as scientist of extraordinary brilliance whose breakthroughs were far, far ahead of his time.

James Lightfield, Philadelphia, USA

The answer to your title question is a) because he proselytizes; b) because his vapid gaze is suitable only for movies such as Risky Business, if that is the right title of his pimping week-end film of the 80s.

elizabeth schumann, Paris, France

I am sure you will not find that all Germans have a stuck view against Scientology, most likely just a few within the German government.

I find it quite amazing to see that despite the amount of counter-opinions Tom Cruise receives, he still is one of the most influential actors in the world (ref: Forbes mag), with over $5 billion in revenue. He also has a top executive position in United Artists. His wife was just voted most influential by OK! mag. Their daughter, too adorable for words. The appear happy all the time. Despite all of his work and play, he still has time to selflessly promote education and drug detoxification. http://spiritualbeing.wordpress.com/tag/celebrities/tom-cruise

If Tom Cruise had to listen to everything people tell him on how wrong he is or how his is this or that, he would never be where he is today.

I think this matter will simply die out, the movie will be released and be a great success.

Philippe Pedersen, Los Angeles, CA