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Free Movie Blog Video Clips: Viggo Mortensen A History of Violence Premiere 2005 Cannes Film Festval
The Dark Side
The way the violence is structured in this movie narratively, the violence that the main character commits, is all justifiable, says Cronenberg. The Tom Stall character is forced into violence when there was really not much of an alternative for him. And Tom's act of violence provokes changes in his wife, Edie.
The unfolding story includes some dark sexual scenes . I think the sex lives of your characters are important, explains Cronenberg. To shy away from it can limit the depth of exploration of the character. I thought it was important to see Maria responding to both the contrasting sex scenes before and after Tom discovers hidden depths of violence in himself.
Bello muses, Nothing is ever the way that we think it is. There's always a dimension that's hidden, whether it's in ourselves, in another person, or happening in the world. There's always this underlying something that we don't control or understand.
Viggo's Birthday
Though the film delves into some dark corners of human behavior, the atmosphere on the set was anything but tense. Cronenberg believes that Viggo Mortensen had a lot to do with that. Viggo's like an ambassador of the production. He is incredibly generous, and has a wonderful effect of involving everybody, says Cronenberg. Ed Harris agrees: Viggo is a bit of a renaissance man. He paints, writes poetry and takes photos and speaks at least three languages. He's very generous and really was involved in this film.
In this clip, the cast and crew surprise Mortensen on his birthday. Young Heidi Hayes, who plays Mortensen's daughter in the film, adds to celebration by introducing him to her pet barn owl, Lucy. (Hayes' parents happen to run The Central Ontario School of Falconry.)
Totally Normal
Although he doesn't usually undertake family dramas, Cronenberg felt for the Stall family. A married couple with two kids are trying to live an open, straightforward honest life, and finding it difficult to do that. So I fell for that classical element.
When we talk about the story being dark, it's really interesting, says Maria Bello. Because we found so much lightness in our relationship with each other and the family in the beginning. So when it starts falling apart, it's shocking. In this behind-the-scenes clip , Cronenberg works with his cast to establish a totally normal dynamic for the Stall family. Says Bello, It's so rare to work with a director who is open to ideas and experience. David's scripts are really lean, because he is interested in the actors filling things out, and he really let us go on that.
Screening and Cronenberg Appearance in NYC
David Cronenberg will participate in a Pinewood Dialogue at the Museum of the Moving Image following a special preview screening of A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE, on Tuesday, September 13, at 7:00 p.m. The film will be shown at the Museum just days after its North American premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. Tickets are $18 for the public/ $12 for Museum members, and can be purchased in advance by calling 718-784-4520.
Bringing Out The Details
Viggo is is a maniac for detail, which I love, says Cronenberg. He is very focused and obsessed with details of how his character would move, speak and dress... Actors are the custodians of their own characters. As a director, you really should listen to that. Mortensen appreciated Cronenberg's openness. As prepared as he is, he is still allowing us and himself to find things as he goes along. As an actor, one feels safe to ask a question. He creates an atmosphere where people feel free to experiment.
In this clip, the director and actor work together on a key scene in which Mortensen's character realizes his family has come under threat. David is a director who understands that simple is complicated and that complicated should be simple, Mortensen says. His stories are really subtle in a deft and uncluttered way. They allow us to look at aspects of ourselves and feelings that we usually avoid because they are uncomfortable to deal with.
VIOLENCE in Cannes
Director David Cronenberg traveled to Cannes in May to debut A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE. A veteran of the international film competition, Cronenberg has previously shown CRASH (1996), which won the Special Jury Prize, and SPIDER (2003) here. He also served as President of the Jury in 1999. In this video clip, Cronenberg heads to the Palais for a quality check on the sound and projection of his latest film. It makes you feel very secure that your film will be shown the best possible way, he says. Then again, it is 3 o'clock in the morning...
Cannes Screening
The press screening and subsequent press conference really ups the intensity during the Cannes Festival competition. These clips capture Cronenberg just after his encounter with the press as he takes stock of the good rumors about his film. The critics turned out to be very supportive, including Manohla Dargis of /The New York Times/ who called A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE the strongest entry in the competition so far after seeing the film.
Dargis later wrote: A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE shifts its tone faster and better than any film I can think of, and that is crucial to its point, purpose and power. In effect, it deconstructs the American action movie. And it is awesome. Read her Cannes Diary entry at /The New York Times/ website.
Scary People
A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE is like a Hitchcock thriller in which an innocent man is mistaken for someone else by some very scary people, and drawn into a world that he'd rather not know anything about. The experience of showing the film at Cannes was not as bad as all that, but did have its share of tense moments. Especially considering the number of film critics involved.
More on Cannes
Cannes can be a stressful blur of activity for competing filmmakers. Here Cronenberg shares more of the sights and sounds of his time at the 58th Festival De Cannes, and demonstrates how he uses his digital camera to help him keep his perspective and sense of humor.
HISTORY OF VIOLENCE
Go behind the scenes of A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE (September 30), the new thriller from director David Cronenberg, as Cronenberg shares his thoughts and exclusive footage shot by his wife and collaborator, Carolyn Zeifman.
A History of Violence David Cronenberg Movie Official Site
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A History of Violence Official Site: Movie production notes
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