Interview by Rafy Mediavilla, with Lionsgate movie “Zeros & Ones” Writer & Director Abel Ferrara, estrena en Digital/VOD el 19 de noviembre, y en Blu-Ray/DVD el 4 de enero 2022. #ZerosAndOnes @Lionsgate
Ethan Hawke (Training Day) y el director Abel Ferrara (Bad Lieutenant) combinan sus fuerzas en este tenso y animado thriller político ambientado una noche mortal en Roma. Convocado a la ciudad para frenar un inminente bombardeo terrorista, el soldado J.J. (Hawke) busca desesperadamente noticias de su hermano rebelde Justin (también Hawke), que se encuentra encarcelado y posee información que podría impedir el ataque. Mientras navega las calles oscuras de la capital, J.J. tendrá una serie de encuentros peligrosos con la esperanza de que el Vaticano no vuele por los aires.
Ethan Hawke (Training Day) and director Abel Ferrara (Bad Lieutenant) join forces for this gritty, tense political-thriller set on one deadly night in Rome. Called to the city to stop an imminent terrorist bombing, soldier J.J. (Hawke) desperately seeks news of his imprisoned rebel brother, Justin (also Hawke), who holds knowledge that could thwart the attack. Navigating the capital’s darkened streets, J.J. races to a series of ominous encounters, hoping to keep the Vatican from being blown to bits.
Criticólogos:
Is it based on something specifically, somebody specifically, what motivated you to write a story?
Abel Ferrara:
You know, I think this story is more about the movies, you know, old kind of memories they have of these kind of films. You know, espionage, counter-espionage, American GI’s, you know, those kind of underworld women like that, you know, agents and you know, madams in, you know, exotic places, that kind of thing. And obviously the pandemic and you know this stereo with the immigration terrorism.
Criticólogos:
I want to talk about the direction we constantly see this first-person perspective, what’s that something that you sought out when you came into set for shooting? Or was that something that you already had figured it out?
Abel Ferrara:
Well, you know, he’s a cameraman, he’s playing a cameraman. So, you know, some of the film, you actually see it through his camera. Never mind designs, you know. So, I think that lends itself to the singular thing. Plus, he’s almost in every frame in a movie.
Criticólogos:
I think the pandemic brought a new layer, different layer to the story, you feel it on the on the story. What would you have changed if anything of the movie if the pandemic wouldn’t have not happened?
Abel Ferrara:
I might not have made it. I mean, you know, I wish the pandemic never happened. That would be, you know, I’d give up the movie, you know, for that not happening. But it was happening and we’re living it and it was still living it. And even though we don’t call, you know, we’re not calling it the, you know, COVID 19, you know, I mean, it’s it’s the metaphor, and it’s the world that we live in.
Criticólogos:
Let’s talk about Ethan Hawke a little bit. He has the difficult task of portrayed two completely different characters. What was his reaction when you brought him the script and he understood the task in hand?
Abel Ferrara:
Well, I mean, I think his initial reaction was he knows a lot of good actors and it a lot of guys who would like to play that role. And I don’t think he was expecting me to ask him to do them both, even though he’s seen the last movie I made with William, where William played basically three roles. You know, so. You know, I mean, William played himself at his father’s, so I guess in playing his brothers of military band, so, you know, as bluesy Green Beret. So, it’s like he definitely, you know, understands the position.
Criticólogos:
What do you want people tjat see this movie to take away from this story?
Abel Ferrara:
I mean, I just wanted to be open seeing it. I mean, I can’t, you know, I mean, every person is different and every situation. I’m going to say it is different. So, I’m not, you know. You know, Kubrick says, you know, film is in the inverted pyramid built on one idea, and so it’s not like, you know. In the light there, you know, it’s a movie, it’s you know. 90 minutes, and you know that someone spending in the dark or even in front of their computer or going to watch it, you know, it’s I just it’s more about how the, you know, I hope people when they watch this movie or any movie, just let themselves go, let themselves experience the movie that. Not judging be judgmental, not be cynical, that’s one thing I would hope. And not have the expectation, any expectation it gives the film, the possibility of a movie is then which is intimate. So, the approach you with that mindset, we get a lot more out of any movie.
See the full interview below:
Trailer:
