“In Conversation” at the 20th Marrakech IFF, an interview with Viggo Mortensen

December 9, 2023

Viggo Mortensen, the American-Danish actor, director, and scriptwriter, talk about one of his latest films – Lisandro Alonso's "Eureka".

"In Conversation" at the 20th Marrakech IFF, an interview with Viggo Mortensen Bénédicte Prot

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Ahead of his masterclass at the 20th Marrakech Film Festival, we met with American-Danish actor, director, and scriptwriter Viggo Mortensen to talk about one of his latest films – Lisandro Alonso‘s “Eureka” –, his approach of his roles and working with a director as well as of writing, directing, knowing to edit, etc. The conversation also includes the two films he directed to date – “Falling”and “The Dead Don’t Hurt” –, and “Lord of the Rings”…

On the upcoming movie “Eureka” by the Argentinian director Lisandro Alonso (unveiled at the latest edition of the Cannes Film Festival in the Cannes Premiere sidebar; also starring Chiara Mastroianni and Rafi Pitts):

“What I like about Lisandro Alonso as a filmmaker, and what I like about directors in general, or actors, is when they tell the story the way they feel it should be, especially directors. They make the movie for themselves. If you end up liking it, that’s great, but Lisandro Alonso, he makes the movie for an audience of one – and that’s not selfish, that’s just being an artist, and that’s what makes him original and unique, and that’s what I admire.”

In answer to a question on the challenges – or not – of getting behind the camera in addition to acting

“Making a movie is about, each day, solving problems, overcoming obstacles. And the best way to solve them is to do it together: it’s a collective enterprise. That’s what I like about movies. It’s kind of a complete universe [… ]. I mean there’s so many elements going into it, it’s so complete. But a movie is only as good as the compromise that individuals make, together. It’s not just about one person. Sometimes directors accept no discussion, it has to be this way, and they make the actors… they tell them every movement. Sometimes the movies are good, but I think that even those movies could be better if they had allowed participation. I like that collective aspect.”

Written by: Bénédicte Prot

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Viggo Mortensen