Cinema an art without borders, director finds
Montreal filmmaker discusses Hollywood experience
Denis Villeneuve has two Englishlanguage movies starring Jake Gyllenhaal — the big- budget thriller Prisoners and the smaller psychomystery Enemy. It’s about a man ( Gyllenhaal) who hunts for his lookalike after seeing him in a movie. The film was nominated for best picture at last Sunday’s Canadian Screen Awards ( Gabrielle won the prize). Q Could you be considered a traitor for making movies in English after being such a source of pride over the Oscar nod for Incendies?
A No, no, no! Cinema is an art form that is designed to go across borders. And as a filmmaker, the only way I can direct a movie is when I feel close to my culture. When I directed Prisoners, the director whose work I felt closest to was ( noted National Film Board cinematographer) Michel Brault.
Q Why was Michel Brault’s work inspiring?
A How can I say? Because it’s a strong example of the strength of simplicity. The accuracy of the camera movements and just a feeling ... He influenced all my work. I won’t work in English all the time, it’s just that some movies you can only make in English because they are just too expensive.
Q What did you learn from your experience in Hollywood?
A I learned about filmmaking. When you work with a cinematographer like Roger Deakins ( True Grit, Revolutionary Road) ... The subtlety of the camera movements, the strength of the point of view, he finds the elegance of it. I learned a lot in the editing room as well. I had the impression of going back to film school.
Q Enemy is about boundaries. Where do we draw the edges of self and identity?
A For me, it’s the exploration of ego. We all have multiple identities inside of us. I think it’s about the power of subconscious and how our actions represent that side of the self, and who is really in control? The influence of the past on our lives, and the strength of the past, is something that really impressed me and terrorized me because it means that we aren’t totally in control of our actions. I think you can find power over it, but it’s a process.
Q What is the core of that process?
A There is no real recipe, but I guess do a lot of psychotherapy and become a real adult. I don’t mean everyone needs that, but me, I do. Q You’re a filmmaker. Of course you do. A I must say I am a 10,000- times better director because I am in therapy.
Q I was joking.
A I’m serious. I can understand more the actors. I can manipulate them more easily ( laughing). But it’s true. I’m a much more open filmmaker, more secure and much more precise because I need to explore. It’s a process about trying to be a better human being and to understand more my art form.