ALEJANDRO GONZALEZ INARRITU - INARRITU AND ARRIAGA FEUD OVER BABEL SPOTLIGHT

INARRITU AND ARRIAGA FEUD OVER BABEL SPOTLIGHT

Mexican filmmaking duo ALEJANDRO GONZALEZ INARRITU and GUILLERMO ARRIAGA are continuing to feud after ending their working partnership last year (06), as they accuse each other of trying to steal the limelight in wake of the success of their Oscar-nominated movie BABEL. Director Inarritu and screenwriter Arriaga have created a string of critically-acclaimed movies together, including 21 GRAMS and AMORES PERROS. Inarritu, Babel composer GUSTAVO SANTAOLALLA and the film's stars GAEL GARCIA BERNAL and ADRIANA BARRAZA have signed a letter addressed to Arriaga, criticising him for his media conduct. The letter, published in Mexican magazine Chilanga on Monday (26FEB07), reads, "It's a shame that in your unjustified obsession to claim sole responsibility for the film, you seem not to recognize that movies are an art of deep collaboration." In a recent radio interview, Arriaga claimed Inarritu had incorrectly listed himself as the creator of Babel in the film credits, saying, "I tried to defend the collective nature of the film. It belongs to everyone." Arriaga announced he would no longer work with Inarritu late last year (06), citing personal and creative differences.