Denis Villeneuve: “Martin Scorsese said to me: ‘The main thing is to try to remain intact'”

We met the director when the Thriller Prisoners was released in 2013.

Prisonersthe psychologically intense investigation led by Jake Gyllenhaal, Hugh Jackman and Paul Dano, returns this Sunday evening to Arte. At the time of its release, in 2013, First had met Denis Villeneuve to speak in detail about this ambitious project. The Canadian has since imposed himself as one of the flagship directors of Hollywood. He is currently working on Dune 3 Before attacking the next James Bond.

Did you know? Denis Villeneuve has shot two ends for prisoners

Interview of October 4, 2013: Denis, let’s go back to your filmo if you want. Between Fire (appointed to the Oscar for best foreign film in 2010) and Prisonersyou have turned Enemya mental thriller with Jake Gyllenhaal. But it is Prisoners that comes out in theaters the first. What happened?
In fact, I signed for the two films six days apart. I developed Enemy For a year or two and, on Friday evening, Jake Gyllenhaal has been calling me to tell me that he is ok to make the film. Less than a week later, I receive a message telling me that Hugh Jackman is ready for Prisoners. So I ended up with two films to shoot in a blow … Then, in terms of distribution, you should know that when the Americans release a film like Prisonersit is a military operation. They knew 18 months before the release would be on September 20, 2013, they had a powerful desire to go to Toronto, everything was inscribed in a precise calendar … The whole manufacturing structure of the film was made according to the marketing plan. I had never experienced that. Enemyit is something else: a short film that must be tamed in a festival, a fragile object that must come to the world more quietly. He will come out later. In March 2014 a priori.

And we can imagine that he will benefit from the success of Prisoners…
It was still ten days ago, I would not have known what to answer you, but yes, given the critical and public success of Prisoners In the United States, I am now quite confident.

Read our prisoners review

And I imagine Jake Gyllenhaal signed for Prisoners Because he was happy with your collaboration on Enemy…
Exactly. On EnemyI wanted to spend a lot of time with an actor, to develop a real working relationship, to design shooting as a laboratory. Jake was released from big studio films that had not always been happy experiences, and I think I got to the right time with my independent and a little mowed film. On Prisonersas Hugh Jackman is a strong actor, I needed an actor capable of sending him the ball. I needed Jake.

He is exceptional in the film, this is one of his best performances. We really have the impression that something happens between you. Have you found your Niro?
We have become good enemies … We love each other and we hate each other. We know each other very well, we have real intimacy which, on a shoot, can become embarrassing for the rest of the team. We talk to each other in a very direct way, without filter. He is someone who inspires me deeply. He is also an actor who is ripening in a radical way and who will surprise us in the future. His best roles are in front of him.

Critics of Prisoners are delusional, many compare the film to Seven or to the silence of the lambs. But your real reference is rather Mystic RiverNo ?
When I landed in Los Angeles for my first meeting with the producers, I went there telling myself that I had nothing to lose. I had loved the script and I got on the plane telling myself that I was going to do, at least once in my life, the experience of working with an American studio. It went well, moreover, otherwise we would not be there to talk about it …

It is quite rare. Many directors, in France in any case, come back rather bitter from there …
I was lucky to have people who know how to take care of their directors. I had inquired before, I knew that Christopher Nolan loved working with them. It didn’t stop me from being afraid at first. Martin Scorsese said to me: “The main thing is to try to remain intact. »»

Okay, and mystic river in there?
Yes, therefore, the first thing I told them at this meeting is: “I don’t know why you called me, it’s a scenario for Eastwood. And indeed, more than Seven or the silence of the lambs, this is the side Mystic River who interested me. The mechanics of the thriller were extremely well oiled in the scenario, I did not have too much effort to do on this. My appropriation work was to modify the characters, the interactions between them, and to draw everything towards the drama.

The film was edited by Joel Cox, the ATSTWOOD official editor. It can’t be a coincidence …
I just had the chance that he was available at that time. In fact, the whole post-production of the film was provided by the team of Clint Eastwood. This is a gift from extraordinary life. It is as for the chief op ‘, Roger Deakins: he came out of Skyfallfor once the coen did not need him, he had a hole in his schedule … I would of course have dared to fantasize to work with someone as Deakins for my first American film. But if all these people wanted to work on prisoners, it is first because they were all very seduced by the scenario.

You saw this tweet of William Friedkin saying that Prisoners Is one of the most creepy films of all time? He compares it to Seven and Psychosis …
(Villeneuve blushes and plunges her head into her hands) It is an immense compliment, especially coming from the man who made the exorcist. It was the film that scored the most in my life. When I was a high school student, we only had two betacam at the boarding school: a concert by Olivia Newton John – we were all in love with her – and the exorcist. It terrified me so much, I was never able to look at him in one go.

It is interesting that this praise comes from Friedkin. He is the great filmmaker of moral ambiguity and prisoners plays with that …
It’s true. Let’s say it was a filmmaker who impressed me at a time when I fell painfully in love with cinema.

Well, are you an American director now? Will the rest be playing there for you?
If I am given the same freedom conditions, I am ready to sign. Working in Hollywood allows you to have control. And to realize his fantasies. For example, I would love to make a science fiction film. And there, it’s possible …

Interview Frédéric Foubert

Trailer Prisoners ::