Page 30 - ARUBA TODAY

A30 PEOPLE & ARTS
Thursday 22 June 2017
Q&A: Coppola and Kidman on

female gaze of ‘The Beguiled’

By LINDSEY BAHR definitely some change that’s a big commitment,
AP Film Writer happening. Is it enough? isn’t it? ... At one point, I
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The in- No. But you know we’re all think I was pregnant with
tersection of Sofia Coppola doing what we can, and Sunday, and I was like, “I’m
and Nicole Kidman didn’t we’re fortunate to have going to give up acting,
start with “The Beguiled.” the opportunities. I’m done. It’s too much.
They’d met at parties in AP: Miss Martha’s sponge And the baby and that’s
passing and had even tried bath of Colin Farrell’s char- it.” And my mom was like,
to work together once on acter could have easily “Don’t do that. Take some
In this June 13, 2017 photo, Sofia Coppola, left, writer/director of a project that fell apart. taken a different tone with time off but don’t give it
“The Beguiled,” and cast member Nicole Kidman pose together Coppola loved Kidman’s a different director. up.” She said, “Keep your
for a portrait at the Four Seasons Hotel in Los Angeles. wicked humor and Kidman KIDMAN: I love how de- toe in the water” because
loved Coppola’s cinematic mure it is. Well, it’s like it she said, “You’re going to
style and vision. So Kidman could have been much want that as you get old-
didn’t hesitate to say yes more. I just like how it’s very er.” And it’s also healthy, if
when Coppola asked her real. you have a creative spirit
to play the part of Miss Mar- COPPOLA: It could have and you’re artistic, there
tha, the headmistress of a gotten really over the top. does have to be a place
girls’ school in the Civil War- But I love that we really for that.
era South that’s thrown focus in on you taking in COPPOLA: That’s true, if not
into disarray when they de- his body. She hasn’t been it doesn’t get expressed...
cide to take in a wounded around a man in so long. I KIDMAN: It can manifest in
Union soldier, in her retelling think I was the most embar- different ways.
of “The Beguiled.” rassed shooting that scene. AP: There seems to be sym-
In fact, the two share more I’m sitting off camera and I metry between this film
than might meet the eye was like, “Nicole, now can and “Big Little Lies.”
— both are married to tour- you wash his inner thigh?” COPPOLA: When I saw the
ing musicians, both have KIDMAN: And I’m staying ending of “Big Little Lies” I
daughters around the completely in character. thought there was a simi-
same age and both have Colin is out, but not really. lar solidarity ... I think that is
been having an incredible COPPOLA: And I’m like sweet how the women pro-
year professionally. Coppo- turning red like asking her tect each other. And I think
la became the first woman to wash his inner thigh and that is something about
in 56 years to win best di- all my gay guy friends are women. Don’t you find that
rector at the Cannes Film like, “Couldn’t you have with your friends?
Festival, and Kidman is en- just moved that cloth over KIDMAN: Definitely. They
joying widespread praise of there? We wanted to see always say there’s a men’s
both her film and television more!” It was funny, but club but there is definitely
work. you were all business. a woman’s club in terms
The two women gathered AP: Sofia, why did you walk of the secrets that are held
recently in Los Angeles to away from directing “The and the way in which we
discuss their film, out Friday, Little Mermaid”? interact. Particularly when
the awkwardness of direct- COPPOLA: I just didn’t feel you get older, I think your
ing a sponge bath, and the like I could do it exactly as female friends become
reinvigorated support of I wanted. It’s a big budget more and more — I mean,
women in Hollywood. so it becomes a lot about obviously we live longer!
The remarks have been ed- business. AP: Do you feel like there’s
ited for clarity and brevity. KIDMAN: I want to see you a culture-wide re-evalua-
AP: Is it a good time for do that though. tion and newfound appre-
woman in Hollywood? COPPOLA: I wish I could ciation of women like you
COPPOLA: I think right now have done that one. But who have been doing in-
I feel like there’s a lot of I decided to do a proj- credible work in Hollywood
talk about it with “Wonder ect that was smaller, that I for years?
Woman” being a big suc- could really have creative KIDMAN: I feel a warmth.
cess, that’s really exciting, control over every aspect I don’t know if that’s the
and with our movie getting ... Does that make sense? time we’re in or a need for
attention — it’s a female KIDMAN: Absolutely. it, but there’s definitely, in-
cast, a female story. AP: Have you ever walked stead of tearing you down
KIDMAN: And that it’s seen away from something, Ni- there’s more encourage-
from the female perspec- cole? ment and support. I don’t
tive. I mean, this is very KIDMAN: Many times. But know if that’s real or if I’m
much from the vision of Sof, for an array of reasons. just sensing it, but it’s a love-
so that you see the film in Sometimes it’s because of ly thing to be a recipient of
terms how the women view family ... There are so many and to be able to offer it as
it — the female gaze and life issues that come into it well.
not some ... It is important. when you’re working. We COPPOLA: There’s more
There’s a shift and there’s both have children and openness to our stories.q