Dune 2 Director Denis Villeneuve Addresses Stilgar Scenes Being Memorized

This article contains spoilers from Dune: Part Two. SCREEN VIDEO OF THE DAY SCROLL TO CONTINUE WITH CONTENT Summary Denis Villeneuve was not surprised by people’s reaction to Stilgar’s blind faith, emphasizing that this was the intention. Stilgar has been mentioned on social media, notably when he said ” as written “. Stilgar’s belief in […]

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Dune 2 Director Denis Villeneuve Addresses Stilgar Scenes Being Memorized

This article contains spoilers from Dune: Part Two.

SCREEN VIDEO OF THE DAY

SCROLL TO CONTINUE WITH CONTENT

Summary

Denis Villeneuve was not surprised by people’s reaction to Stilgar’s blind faith, emphasizing that this was the intention.
Stilgar has been mentioned on social media, notably when he said ”
as written
“.
Stilgar’s belief in Paul Atreides as the messiah showcases the humor and tragedy that will have consequences for the protagonist’s pursuits in the holy war.

Dune: part two Director Denis Villeneuve shares his thoughts on Stilgar (Javier Bardem) becoming a meme since the film‘s release. Stilgar firmly believes that Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) is the Lisan al Gaib, the term used by the Fremen for their prophesied messiah. This spawned countless memes with Stilgar saying: “Lisan al Gaib”, with many memes featuring his gaping expression as he watches Paul ride a sandworm for the first time.

In an interview with The New York TimesVilleneuve was asked if he was surprised by the audience’s laughter when Stilgar spoke due to the humorous memes associated with his character. Villeneuve’s response is definitive “No”, for he does not see this reaction as a spectator mocking or misunderstanding Stilgar. Rather, the audience’s reaction matches Villeneuve’s intention behind his portrayal of Stilgar. Read Villeneuve’s comments below:

I am very happy when you say that he is a tragic character. In my opinion,
he is the most tragic character of all
. The idea of bringing humor to Stilgar was to make him lovable, to feel the humanity of this character. He is not an austere character, he has a big heart. But his beliefs, his faith, his reactions bring humor – and that’s something I love about making a science fiction film, because I can talk about it without offending people because it is a false religion. I designed all the prayers myself, so I know it’s wrong. I find Stilgar very funny. And
when people laugh, I’m happy because that was the intention
.
He grew up with this dream all his life. So I suggest that whenever a guy comes in from the outside with a lot of charisma, he hopes he’s found it. Like in the Bible, we have tons of prophets before Jesus came.

Stilgar is both humorous and tragic

He firmly believes that Paul is the Messiah.

In the second half of the film, the same religious fervor that was previously funny becomes much more sinister as Stilgar’s blind faith is integral to pushing Paul further down the path that will make him a tyrant responsible for genocide across the universe .

Villeneuve’s response proves that the humor and tragedy of Stilgar’s character are not mutually exclusive. In the first half of Dune: part two, it’s really funny to see Stilgar confidently assert that every little thing Paul does is a sign that he’s the Lisan al Gaib. When Paul flatly denies this, Stilgar only sees it as a sign that he is the messiah, for only Lisan al Gaib would be so humble. Bardem’s performance and Villeneuve’s direction make these moments endearing and comical.

Javier Bardem as Stilgar and Timothée Chalamet as Paul

Why Stilgar thinks Paul is Lisan Al Gaib: 6 signs and reasons in Dune 2

Although it was through the Bene Gesserit that Paul cultivated his power and influence over Arrakis, Stilgar was one of the Fremen who believed in signs.

In the second half of the film, the same religious fervor that was once funny becomes much more sinister for Stilgar’s blind faith is integral to pushing Paul further down the path that will make him a tyrant responsible for genocide across the universe. The humor is gone when Stilgar begs Paul to kill himself, or when he applauds triumphantly as the holy war begins during Dune: part two‘Sending in progress. It is tragic to see Stilgar, an intelligent and capable leader of the Fremen, entirely consumed by his fanaticism and the consequences such fanaticism brings.

Dune has always been a cautionary tale about religious fanaticism, with Stilgar being one of the most important characters to embody this theme. The humor of Stilgar’s memes is consistent with the character and themes of Dune: part two, presenting the hilarious absurdity of believing that everything Paul says and does is proof that he is the Messiah. THE the humor reinforces the danger of what Stilgar represents rather than weakening it, and the impact will be significant for Dune: Part Three.

Dune: part two
is currently showing in cinemas.

Source: The New York Times

Dune Part 2 poster showing Timothée Chalamet as Paul Atréides and Zendaya as Chani holding daggers

Dune: part two

Dune: Part Two is the sequel to Denis Villeneuve’s 2021 film which covers the events of Frank Herbert’s novel. The film continues Paul Atreides’ quest on a journey of revenge against those who killed his family. With a glimpse of the future, Atreides may be forced to choose between his one true love and the fate of the universe.