A beguiling collaboration
final cut,” the actress replies. “What would be the point?”
“Don’t ever do that. Don’t ever do that,” the director insists. “I never have, but I almost did, and I’m so thankful I didn’t do it. When I get input, I like being able to say, ‘Oh, thank you,’ but then do it the way I want.”
Coppola seems to be referring to “The Little Mermaid,” a live-action version of the classic Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale that she dropped out of because of creative differences in 2015. Instead, she went on to make “The Beguiled” — which, though not a massive studio film, still proved a challenge for the director. Unlike her previous work — sparse, dialoguelight movies like “Lost in Translation” and “Somewhere” — “The Beguiled” has more language and a propulsive plot line.
“This was kind of an experiment, and I liked trying a different style of filmmaking,” Coppola says. “I’ve never used a lot of dialogue before, because in real life, people don’t express themselves that way. They show things through gesture. Nobody can show their feelings. I try to make things based on my impression of how they are in life, which is not as tidy and organized. More impressionistic, to give you the feeling of something.”
“I always think movies have too much dialogue. No one talks that much,” Dunst agrees. “I like how your films allow you to have your own experience of things.”
Farrell, who had never worked with Coppola before “The Beguiled” but was a longtime fan of her work, describes it as “emotional dislocation.”
“She’s a master of mood,” the actor says. “She ran the most calm and relaxed set that I’ve ever been on in 20 years of making films. Her direction was very, very gentle — she’d have you leaning into her and nearly whispering.”
Since the Cannes win, Coppola has been overwhelmed by the warm reaction from peers.
“Even in my neighborhood — when I walk my kids to school, strangers on the street will be like, ‘Yes! Congratulations!’ ” she says.
“My mom was so proud of you,” Dunst says. “She cried when she heard. I mean, it’s a long legacy of us working together.”
“Really? That’s sweet,” the director says. “I still haven’t gotten the trophy. But Quentin [Tarantino] told me he was bummed he never got the director award, because it’s actually bigger than the Palme d’Or. I’m excited for it. It can go in my house with all of those Calico Critters.”