Save this article to read it later.
Find this story in your accountsSaved for Latersection.
This post was originally published in January, afterThe Nightingalepremiered at the Sundance Film Festival.
Some spoilers forthe film follow.
Early on in the film, Lieutenant Hawkins commits an inconceivable crime against Clare and her family.
Youve said that this movie nearly killed you.
Why?It was a physical ordeal.
So it has next to no infrastructure.
They support a lot of filmmaking, but theres not a population big enough to have experienced crew.
So we had to bring over most equipment, and crew, and cast.
We spent three months rushing, in the wilderness.
It takes a lot from your cast and crew.
Talk to me a little bit about coming up with the concept for this.
This is a really heavy film.
And I didnt sit down to consciously write about this.
Was there a specific disrespect for the feminine that inspired you?No.
I think its me in the world going,Whats happening here?
And thats how we treat violence now: as an entertainment, as a stress relief.
In this film, I can show the true impact of what it does to people.
It causes a lot of pain.
How did you decide how far to go in the rape scenes, for example?
And the history of your country!
I really didnt go anywherenearwhat people went through during colonization.
But I dont see those scenes as rape scenes.
If you look at any rape scene in cinema, you will see womens naked bodies.
That, for example, for me was a no go.
I didnt want to look at it from the male gaze.
If you look at the scenes youre referring to, theyre really just close-ups of faces.
I wanted people to understand that its about power and its about destruction.
Those were my guidelines.
What is your direction like in these specific scenes the rape scenes, the murder scenes?
We had psychological advisers [as well].
I completely understand that, and I would protect peoples right to make that decision.
I dont understand that.
I think I actually have a responsibility.
For me to go,Oh, that just upsets me to watch it.
I dont want to know about that.
I think its actually a life-and-death question.
The most fascinating part of this movie, to me, is that nobody has clean hands.
Clare is openly racist.
Its a comfort perhaps, but its not honest.
And I feel that humans are flawed.
Including Hawkins, the lieutenant in question in the center of the film.
I feel for him, actually.
Theyarehuman, and Im interested in finding out what the damage is.
So, for me its very important to look at humans in a very balanced and complex way.
How do you translate that belief system offscreen?
When you look at somebody like Harvey Weinstein or Louis C.K.
Im not comfortable getting into it, because then it could be misconstrued.
I think people want to make things black and white because its easier.
For example, the question of rape.
And it was heartbreaking, actually, and frightening but very moving.
And I think its a conversation that needs to happen.
How do we treat our boys?
How do we socialize people so this is the world we know with it?
Its a very deep question, but I guess these are my points.
And the fact that where they end up is a miracle on some level.
Im a storyteller and thats my focus, and I really want to tell stories Im passionate about.
Im not built like that.
Im not hardwired like that, so I have to feel an absolute love for a story.
So, thats the litmus test for me.
If I dont feel that, I just cant take on a job.
Thats not about,Oh, theyre beneath me, not at all.
If Im not into something, I do a really bad job.
I want to talk a little bit about the idea of female anger.
I think both of your movies thus far have delved into that theme pretty deeply [Ironically.
]Women arent angry!
Yeah, were doing great!We never get angry.
Ive always been fascinated by the way women arent allowed to be angry in public.
But your perspective, and correct me if Im wrong, is that its a positive or motivating force.
I have no judgment on emotion.
If you feel rage, male, female, or otherwise, you cant stop that.
Thats my whole point withThe Babadook:Have it out.
Not to harm a child!
Im really angry that my husband died in an accident and left me in this situation.
We are more than that, so much more.
And I think a lot of rage comes from disrespect of the power of the feminine, actually.
Look atDurga, whos Mother Divine.
Shes got how many arms six arms?
Were incredibly powerful beings.
Dont mess with us.
I thought he was being sort of witty, and then I realized he was being literal.
Did it make you angry?It didnt make me angry because it was so silly.
Ive made the film.
I know how I feel about it, and now Ive stepped back and witnessed how others respond.
Especially in Italy, theres a macho culture.
It exists on this idea that the masculine force is the most powerful.
It is powerful, but if theres an imbalance of it in the world, there are problems.
So I could see it from a bigger perspective people who feel threatened will lash out.
Im sort of glad that it pushes buttons.
The worst thing I think would be for people to say, Oh, this film is boring.
If it pushes those buttons, I just dont take it personally.
I was very conscious when I made this film.
I was very aware of what I was doing.
I just couldnt [predict] the backlash that it had there.
I wasnt prepared for it, but now I am.
When there is a backlash to something youve made, do you take any of it to heart?
Do you ignore it?
Whats the way that you sort of internalize it or not?Im human.
Its not an easy one.
I dont like being criticized or being told my work is shit, but Im getting used to it.
I think if you dont want any feedback thats negative, just dont ever do anything.
Just sit in a room and youll be fine, protected.
I would say to younger filmmakers, Just have the guts to be hurt by feedback.
Be hurt and move on.
But, I have to say the Australians response was so mature.
Ive never been patriotic or nationalistic.
But Im proud because so much energy is spent on denial.
When you go, Hey, my ancestors are responsible.
How can we evolve from it?
then thats when real change starts to happen.
It needs to happen over here, too.It does!
It needs to happen around the world.
There are a lot of obviously dark forces in America, but it makes people conscious.
These forces have always existed, but now theyre just taking power, taking control.
So we need to examine how we move through the world.
All those qualities that are not sugary, nice qualities.
They have to be our lifeline as humans.
We did our work and gave respect where it was due.
Your next project,Alice and Freda Forever, has been in development for a few years.
Where does it stand now?It kind of hasnt been in development for a few years.
Again, it might push a few buttons.
Its based on a true story.
I cannot wait when were able to make it this year.
What buttons do you think it will push?I dont know!
The American people will have to let me know that, and Im sure they will.
