“The Bikeriders”, interview with director Jeff Nichols and actor Austin Butler

June 17, 2024

Jeff Nichols: “I think you’re looking at guys that are formalizing the idea of rebellion”

“The Bikeriders”, interview with director Jeff Nichols and actor Austin Butler Chiara Nicoletti

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The new film by director Jeff Nichols, The Bikeriders, coming out in cinemas on June 19th, follows the rise of a midwestern motorcycle club, the Vandals.

Distributed by Universal Pictures and starring Austin Butler, Tom Hardy and Jodie Comer, the film is set in the city of Chicago in the 60’s and it is the story of a mysterious motorcycle club member Benny (Austin Butler), finding his place in the group led by Johnny (Tom Hardy).

Inspired by iconic motorcycle films such as “The Wild one” or “Easy Rider“, director Jeff Nichols focused on the universal theme of the film, our constant search for our identity and the need for everybody to belong, to fit in.

“While we’re looking for our place in the world, we often end up in a group” comments Jeff Nichols adding that in the film “you’re looking at guys that are formalizing the idea of rebellion”.

As his Benny doesn’t really talk much while he has so many scenes in which everything happens without a single word coming out, Austin Butler explains his method of writing down his characters’s thoughts despite not spelling them out.

Plot

THE BIKERIDERS captures a rebellious time in America when the culture and people were changing. After a chance encounter at a local bar, strong-willed Kathy (Jodie Comer) is inextricably drawn to Benny (Austin Butler), the newest member of Midwestern motorcycle club, the Vandals led by the enigmatic Johnny (Tom Hardy). Much like the country around it, the club begins to evolve, transforming from a gathering place for local outsiders into a dangerous underworld of violence, forcing Benny to choose between Kathy and his loyalty to the club.

Written by: Chiara Nicoletti

Guest

Austin Butler Jeff Nichols

Film

The Bikeriders

Festival

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“The Bikeriders”, interview with director Jeff Nichols and actor Austin Butler

Jeff Nichols: “I think you’re looking at guys that are formalizing the idea of rebellion”

Plot

Channel posts

“Queer Edward”, interview with director Theo Rollason and film advisor Peter Tatchell

“Listy-Letters from the Silenced Country”, interview with director Andrei Kutsila

“Guria”, interview with director Levan Koguashvili and producer Boris Frumin

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