Guillermo del Toro Shares Harrowing Kidnapping Tale in Wake of Paris Terror Attacks

After the deadly terror attacks on Paris Friday night, “Crimson Peak” director Guillermo del Toro shared a powerful and personal tale following the kidnapping of his father two decades ago.

“What terror seeks is to provoke hatred- and thus, they will recruit the hated ones, the marginal, the desperate into their ranks,” the filmmaker began on Twitter, calling the short anecdote “A memory in 8 tweets.”

Del Toro went on to recount the aftermath of the kidnapping of his father, Federico del Toro, by criminals in Guadalajara. After a ransom of $1 million was paid by del Toro’s friend James Cameron, Federico was freed following 72 days in captivity.

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“During the captivity of my father- a time of enormous pain- two policemen came to see us. They had two proposals,” del Toro wrote. “The first was: For 5K, they would give us a room with the kidnappers, tied to a chair. They would provide a lead pipe & 15 minutes alone. The second one: For 10K they would make sure that- when the raid happened- all kidnappers would get killed and we’d get Polaroids. We said no. Absolutely no to both. We felt hatred and pain but could not be a part of the cycle of violence.”

During a dinner with other families who had gone through a similar ordeal, del Toro wrote, someone brought out some photographs — but the filmmaker refused to look at them.

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“In times like this- when violence breeds violence, I think of that day and pray for wisdom and strength,” the director concluded.

What terror seeks is to provoke hatred- and thus, they will recruit the hated ones, the marginal, the desperate into their ranks.

— Guillermo del Toro (@RealGDT) November 14, 2015

A memory in 8 tweets: During the captivity of my father- a time of enormous pain- two policemen came to see us. They had two proposals.

— Guillermo del Toro (@RealGDT) November 14, 2015

The first was: For 5K, they would give us a room with the kidnappers, tied to a chair. They would provide a lead pipe & 15 minutes alone.

— Guillermo del Toro (@RealGDT) November 14, 2015

The second one: For 10K they would make sure that- when the raid happened- all kidnappers would get killed and we’d get Polaroids.

— Guillermo del Toro (@RealGDT) November 14, 2015

We said no. Absolutely no to both. We felt hatred and pain but could not be a part of the cycle of violence.

— Guillermo del Toro (@RealGDT) November 14, 2015

72 days after his capture, my father was liberated.

— Guillermo del Toro (@RealGDT) November 14, 2015

Months passed and several families that had gone through similar ordeals joined in a restaurant to have dinner and exchange support.

— Guillermo del Toro (@RealGDT) November 14, 2015

During dinner: a small commotion. Some people rushed to the end of the long, long table. “What is it, I asked?” “Some photos” someone said.

— Guillermo del Toro (@RealGDT) November 14, 2015

I stayed on my side of the table. Never looked. Perhaps someone had paid? I didn’t want to know.

— Guillermo del Toro (@RealGDT) November 14, 2015

In times like this- when violence breeds violence, I think of that day and pray for wisdom and strength.

— Guillermo del Toro (@RealGDT) November 14, 2015