
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 19: Director Guillermo del Toro attends The Academy Of Motion Picture Arts And Sciences An academy Screening Of CRIMSON PEAK on October 19, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Robin Marchant/Getty Images for Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences)
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