“Coup!”, Interview with directors Austin Stark and Joseph Schuman and actor Billy Magnussen

In a recent interview with Fred Film Radio, co-directors Austin Stark and Joseph Schuman discussed their latest film, “Coup!”, in Giornate degli Autori section. The darkly comic thriller, set during the 1918 Spanish Flu epidemic, explores themes of class struggle and social divide. Austin Stark and Joseph Schuman, friends since childhood, drew inspiration from the recent pandemic, which led them to create a story that delves into the dynamics between the wealthy and the working class.

The film follows the character Jay, played by Billy Magnussen, a U.S. journalist seeking refuge on a luxurious island estate with his family and servants during the chaos of the Spanish Flu. When a mysterious grifter named Floyd, portrayed by Peter Sarsgaard, arrives as their cook, he sees an opportunity to upend the social order and spark a rebellion to seize the mansion.

The idea from which the film was born

Austin Stark and Joseph Schuman revealed that their early inspiration for “Coup!” came from observing New Yorkers with means fleeing to places like The Hamptons during the pandemic. Magnussen’s character, Jay, was partially shaped by former CNN anchor Chris Cuomo, who broadcasted from his basement in The Hamptons, blurring the lines between the city and the countryside.

While the Spanish Flu serves as the backdrop, Schuman emphasized that it was used as the “canvas” to maroon the characters on a deserted island, allowing them to explore the dynamics of the employer-employee relationship when the social order breaks down.

According to Schuman, “These broad-scale emergencies have a way of betraying the fault lines of the class system, which was deeply appealing to us to write about.”

A layer of distance from the contemporary setting

Turning the clock back 100 years, Stark and Schuman aimed to create a layer of distance from the contemporary setting, ensuring that “Coup!” wasn’t perceived as a COVID film. The progressive era of the early 20th century mirrored present-day conflicts, providing an opportunity to examine how little has changed in terms of class struggle.

The cast

Peter Sarsgaard was the filmmakers’ top choice to play the role of Floyd, the chef-hatted rebel. His calculated energy and ability to portray dark characters made him a perfect fit for the role. On the other hand, casting Billy Magnussen as the tormented character Jay was a departure from his typical roles as the tormentor.

In addition to the core cast, Fisher Stevens makes a cameo appearance as the real-life muckraker Upton Sinclair, showcasing the film’s unique blend of historical elements and contemporary themes.

The conflict between characters in a polarised society

While Austin Stark and Joseph Schuman acknowledge drawing inspiration from films like “Parasite”, their intention was not solely to create an “eat the rich” narrative. By bringing Jay and Floyd together under one roof, they aimed to explore the immediate conflict between characters representing different facets of a polarised society, adding a “darkly esoteric edge” to the story.

As Austin Stark concluded, “We weren’t thinking so much about it being an ‘eat the rich’ film as much as just doing something original and something that appealed to us, that spoke to our class struggle and social divide.”

In “Coup!” Austin Stark and Joseph Schuman offer a thought-provoking take on societal dynamics and class disparities, creating a sub-genre of cinema that continues to evolve and captivate audiences.

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