During the 66th BFI London Film Festival at Southbank Centre on October 9, 2022, Dame Judi Dench attended the European Premiere of “Allelujah.” She recently expressed her views on trigger warnings in a UK publication, The Times. These thoughts are part of her upcoming memoir, Is It Too Late to Make a Run for It?
Dench, at 91 years old and with extensive experience in stage and screen, criticized the use of trigger warnings as excessive. She believes such warnings have surpassed necessary information like age limits or sound effects notifications.
“I think they have gone too far,” Dench said. “It’s mollycoddling. If you’re that sensitive, don’t go to the theater.”
Dench’s objections extend to how she perceives these warnings diminish classic stories by removing surprises and diluting provocative content. She cited an example of potentially ruining a mystery like Agatha Christie’s works by revealing important plot points through warnings.
Dench noted that in safe environments such as theaters or cinemas, audience members should be expecting to be challenged, excited, or disturbed. To her, this engagement makes the experience thrilling.
“In the safety of a theater or cinema, I want to be triggered, excited, stimulated, provoked, and disturbed. Isn’t that what makes theater and films so thrilling?” she said.
Dench humorously mentioned varied potential triggers, like clowns or bananas, questioning the necessity of warnings for such benign items.
Her remarks echo a 2024 interview where she showed some understanding of why content advisories exist, yet suggested those highly sensitive should reconsider attending theater.
Christian Toto, a film critic and host of the “Hollywood in Toto” podcast, praised Dench’s statements. He found the acknowledgment of obvious truths about art and triggering content significant.
“Dench’s statement on trigger warnings is obvious, but it still needs to be said today. Art is meant to challenge us, to question our beliefs and offer new perspectives… Kudos for Dench for lighting the way to sanity,” Toto said.
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