Viggo Mortensen and David Cronenberg were in Montreal on Tuesday to present Crimes of the Futurethe fifth film they have made together. The Press took the opportunity to make them talk about the special bond that unites them.
Posted yesterday at 7:00 a.m.
It’s kind of funny to say, but without the success of The Lord of the Rings (The Lord of the Rings), the meeting between Viggo Mortensen and David Cronenberg might never have happened. When the director of Crash was choosing the actors for the film A History of Violence (A history of violence), the studio responsible for production – the same one that handled Peter Jackson’s feature films – suggested the filmmaker meet the interpreter of Aragorn, now a popular star.
PHOTO FRANÇOIS ROY, THE PRESS
David Cronenberg and Viggo Mortensen on the red carpet for the premiere of crimes of the futureTuesday evening
“Our relationship began on a somewhat shaky basis because the screenplay wasn’t very good and I had to convince Viggo, who didn’t know me very well yet, of my ability to improve it,” says David Cronenberg. . I remember after our first meeting, I called my agent and told him that I felt like Viggo didn’t like me very much! »
PHOTO PROVIDED BY ALLIANCE VIVAFILM (ARCHIVES)
In 2005, A History of Violence (A history of violence) marks the first collaboration between Viggo Mortensen and David Cronenberg.
It was not so, of course, even if the actor recognizes that indeed, the scenario of this film of which the Canadian scenario writer was only going to sign the realization was not with the point. “Each project is an act of faith,” he says. Especially with someone you’ve never worked with before. But I felt that I could place my trust in David, especially since I already loved his cinema and knew him to be an honest and sincere artist, capable of taking risks. »
An ever-strong bond
As the saying goes, the rest is history. Not only have the two men shared a fruitful professional relationship for more than 15 years, but they have also forged a deep friendship.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY SEVILLE FILMS
In A Dangerous Method (A dangerous method), by David Cronenberg, Viggo Mortensen played Sigmund Freud.
“It happens quite rarely, concedes Viggo Mortensen. David and I often talk together, and not necessarily about movies. It is a stimulating relationship, based on mutual respect. »
We don’t agree on everything, but every time we see each other, the bond is still strong and we genuinely care about what’s going on in each other’s lives.
Viggo Mortensen
After A History of Violence, Eastern Promises (which earned the actor an Oscar nomination) and A Dangerous Methodafter having also directed him in fallinga film he wrote and directed, Viggo Mortensen is reuniting with his filmmaker friend for a feature film that fits into a genre – the body horror – of which Cronenberg is one of the undisputed masters. In Crimes of the Future, which also stars Léa Seydoux and Kristen Stewart, the actor, still one of the biggest supporters of the Montreal Canadiens, lends his features to Saul Tenser, an avant-garde conceptual artist with the ability to generate him new organs. His performances during which operations are performed on him live broadcast are very popular.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY SPHERE FILMS
Léa Seydoux and Viggo Mortensen in Crimes of the Future (The crimes of the future), by David Cronenberg.
“When David sent me the script, I wasn’t sure,” says Viggo Mortensen. I even wondered if the character of the policeman wouldn’t be more interesting to play in this story which seemed to me to fit into the film noir genre. But David convinced me to play Saul, and I’m really glad I did. Especially since Léa was a perfect partner. Really. »
Each movie by itself
Since the presentation of the feature film at the Cannes Film Festival, it has often been said that David Cronenberg was rediscovering his roots by returning to a genre that had established his reputation, neglected for more than 20 years. The main interested party does not really see things that way.
When I shoot, I don’t feel the weight of the genre. When I did A History of Violence and Eastern Promises, I didn’t feel like I was making gangster movies either. In my eyes, each film exists by itself, without reference to the others, with its own requirements.
David Cronenberg
“Of course, I see the links after the film is finished, but I don’t use them consciously. And when we talk about roots, I don’t really know what we’re talking about, insofar as I made underground films that I couldn’t even define myself, including a few in Montreal. This is why I particularly like this city. »
The first draft of the screenplay Crimes of the Future was written in 1998. Even if this story evoking the forced transformation of the genetic code of the human being in order to adapt to an environment that he himself has screwed up seems to be topical, the filmmaker does not see it a message specifically stuck to our times.
“Honestly, I no longer thought of making films because it has become very complicated to make films. But producer Robert Lantos convinced me that this old script was more relevant than ever. I reread and then, yes, I found the idea good. »
Crimes of the Future (The crimes of the future in French version) hits theaters June 3.