Interview with Oliver Stone in Clarín

olivier-stone1

His latest film W, focuses on the controversial figure of the former president of the United States, George W. Bush, in a biopic film portrayed by the talented Josh Brolin.

During the In an interview conducted by Pablo Scholz, from the Clarín newspaper, Stone spoke exclusively with the Argentine media of W, about his time in Argentina and the meetings with the then Argentine president, about his truncated project Evita and provided details about the documentary that he is filming about the president of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez, showing his preference for portraying political figures.

The most interesting passages of the interview appear when you think about the incidence of Bush Jr. in a country like the United States, and the history of violence that this country (and the human species in general) carries

A part of the interview, then:

When was the last time you were in Argentina?
I think it was because of Evita, after Menem said in the newspapers that he would not collaborate with us in his life, which was false because he told me otherwise 24 hours later. I met Menem three times, although he is not exactly my ideal of President… I have no funny memories. I liked Argentina, I could have been part of Evita in your country, but I considered that for that price, it would not have been a good movie. Perhaps in the near future I will have the opportunity to be on the balcony of the Casa Rosada ... I met Mr. Kirchner in Venezuela, and later in Colombia. A year ago, on the issue of the release of the FARC hostages.
Are you planning to interview the Kirchners for the documentary on Hugo Chávez that you are filming?
Yes, yes, but not yet.
Speaking of other types of Presidents, after 8 years, and already in perspective, what do you really think of Bush?
I think it was masterful, in a negative way. It had a tremendous impact on the world, it changed the way we do business with the world, it took everything to extreme positions, not only economically, but socially. I think these years will be remembered, if we have some kind of collective memory.
Do you think money and war are still great motivators in your country?
I would prefer less level of violence. Violence is in the nature of people, we all have it, and if not, look at Murderers by nature. Violence is our natural way of fighting. The United States has a great history on that. The levels of violence have risen, the fact of using aggressiveness, blood, even within the country ... That's what W is about, yes, narrated in a simple way that the American public can understand. That they understand how national security measures are getting bigger and bigger. Since I was born in 1946, it has grown enormously, and it makes me very sad in these times how violence in the world has spread.
"W" is the first film that someone makes about a President while he is in the White House. It was hard?
It is difficult, but rewarding. In this country at least we have the freedom to make a film like that and present it, I don't think I could have made it in China ... The question is to get the money, the money comes from elsewhere, no American studio would have put the money, that is truth. It's hard. Most came from Germany, France, and Hong Kong and Australia. I have to say, the movie could not have been made with only American money. We have a very limited distribution, but we seized the opportunities and made the movie that we wanted to make. But yes, we have been criticized from all sides.
You have said that "W" is a biography full of magical realism. In what sense?
Well, yes, but not magical realism in Borges's sense. The movie lasts two hours but, for example, in the scene where he dreams about his relationship with his father, the father comes to the White House, and well, I chose what was allowed to tell. And the dreams were in this plot that has magical realism, story and drama. I think I said it in that context.
Religion is a very important aspect of Bush Jr.'s personality. Do you think it shows some kind of redemption or reconversion in him?
Nooo, redemption? No, no. Let's see, the movie is based on reality, until he was 40 he was a loser in many ways, he had no money, he was an alcoholic, he was not a successful politician. Then he was born again, ascended to a personal level, found God, and was born again. Now, as a Christian it seems that he is correct, that he does not drink, he says that he does nothing wrong, that he only governs. A lot of people don't agree with that, but I don't make judgments, the movie doesn't. Redemption or not? Well, in his head, yes. You can say that in religion, being born again does not go well with the ego, your ego is supposed to go away and you become a child of Christ, but in his actions as President he makes big ego decisions. "I am the boss," he says, and those are not Christian ideals. But I insist that I do not judge, I only show.
How did you conceive the dialogues between Bush father and son, and in the White House? Is it all your imagination, or does it have a basis?
It is very difficult to explain. Let's see, it's a historical drama, we did the dialogues with that pressure, we knew that those feelings existed between father and son. The movie has a website that explains everything. We have not invented it, it is the basis of the story, the relationship between father and son.
Why do you think the Argentine public will be interested in seeing "W"?
I do not know. You decide.
¿What are your expectations of Obama, days after his inauguration?
I don't know, I don't like everything, I don't want to set too many expectations. It has a long way to go, many wars, many troublesome decisions to make.

To read the full note, click here.

Source: Clarín


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