“Matt and Mara”, interview with director Kazik Radwanski and actor Matt Johnson

February 24, 2024

Kazik Radwanski and Matt Johnson: “we deeply believe in timing in relationship. Maybe this is something Matt and Mara are trying to correct”

“Matt and Mara”, interview with director Kazik Radwanski and actor Matt Johnson Chiara Nicoletti

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With the 2019’s title “Anne at 13,000 ft.” Canadian director Kazik Radwanski worked successfully with actors Matt Johnson and Deragh Campbell. As he wanted to reproduce the magic of that film, he cast the two again for “Matt and Mara“, screening in the Encounters competition at the 74th Berlinale.

“Matt and Mara” is the story of a creative writing professor who reunites with an old friend and free-spirited author Matt. Despite her being married with a daughter, they start a sort of undefined relationship where the line between friendship and something more is never really drawn.

Kazik Radwanski admits that he wanted to explore relationships, conversations, two visions of looking at life and love with this story.

Matt Johnson comments on what he declared in an official interview: “I always viewed my role in Kaz’s films as the guy that has to get things going, as the kind of person who’s bringing up the unmentionable”. The actor explains how his friendship and work dynamic functions with Radwanski and Campbell as the latter is more similar to the director, shy and keeping things internally.

Does bad timing really exist in relationship? is there such a thing as the the right time to meet somebody or to meet them again? Johnson and Radwanski agree on a big yes to the question and the director adds: “like Matt, I believe in timing and maybe this is something Matt and Mara are trying to correct in the film”.

Plot

A chance encounter leads Mara (Deragh Campbell), a young creative writing professor, to reunite with Matt (Matt Johnson), a charismatic, free-spirited author from her past who wanders onto her university campus. Bonded by their shared interests, the two begin to grow closer as she contends with her strained marriage to an experimental musician. When her husband suddenly cancels plans to drive Mara to a conference out of town, Matt accompanies her on the road trip, where pressure slowly mounts against their undefined relationship.

Written by: Chiara Nicoletti

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