‘The Way of the Wind’ Has What It Takes to Be a 2025 Masterpiece

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In 2025, one of cinema’s most enigmatic and revered filmmakers, Terrence Malick, is set to return after a six-year hiatus with his new feature film, titled The Way of the Wind (previously known as The Last Planet). This movie is an event that every passionate film lover should mark on their calendar for 2025, assuming it receives wide distribution following its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in May. Malick is known for crafting epics and delving into themes he has mastered over the years.

Terrence Malick’s films have consistently featured spiritual themes, ranging from war stories like “The Thin Red Line” to personal family dramas such as “The Tree of Life.” However, as he nears the end of his life and career, it appears that spirituality is becoming his primary focus. His latest film, “A Hidden Life,” centered around a devout farmer who resisted joining the German army during World War II. Now, Malick is delving even deeper into this realm with a movie about Jesus of Nazareth, portrayed by Géza Röhrig in the upcoming production. Although specific details about the film are scarce, it’s said to narrate the life of Jesus through parables and examine his journey into Hell according to Catholic teachings.

‘The Way of the Wind’ Originated Decades Ago

The Way of the Wind was predominantly shot in 2019, with Malick dedicating a significant five-year period to the editing phase, where he often assembles his films. As Malick mentioned at a screening of A Hidden Life held at the Vatican’s Filmoteca in 2019 (via The Film Stage), “The aspect of my work I enjoy most is the editing. There’s no longer the stress of set conditions, or the unpredictability of weather during filming. I am content to be here at the culmination of this lengthy voyage.

As a cinephile, I can’t help but marvel at the journey Terrence Malick’s film “The Way of the Wind” has taken. Actor Mathieu Kassovitz once revealed that Malick filmed approximately 3,000 hours of footage, which explains why the editing process took so long. Initially, Malick had planned to bring this project to life in the ’90s with Disney, but unfortunately, they refused to grant him creative control. With this vision lingering in his mind for decades, it’s undeniable that “The Way of the Wind” holds deep significance for Malick. This sentiment is echoed by Jack Fisk, Malick’s longtime production designer, who shared on the Writers on Film podcast that the film is indeed very personal and meaningful to the director.

For 14 years, we scouted various locations worldwide for this movie. We visited Morocco, Israel, Italy, among others. This film holds particular significance for him.

The Stars of Terrence Malick’s Film Speak Out

As a cinephile, I’ve had the privilege of watching a captivating movie with an impressive ensemble cast, led predominantly by Röhrig, Schoenaerts, Rylance, Kingsley, Barhom, Thors, Fiennes, Booth, and Turner. Each cast member who has spoken about their experience on this project has nothing but praise.

Before the cameras started rolling at the Deauville Film Festival, as reported by The Guardian, Rylance shared an intriguing tidbit. He mentioned that Terry Gilliam wrote four different versions of Satan’s character and initially planned to portray only one. However, he was surprised to learn he would be playing all four roles. One of them seemed to have been a female character at some point, but it wasn’t until Rylance was asked to grow a beard that he realized the approach wouldn’t be the one he’d taken.

I’m thrilled to work with Terrence Malick, yet I find myself curious because I’ve heard he frequently communicates with his actors. Coming from a theatre background, I’m not accustomed to directors barking instructions or dictating actions while acting. However, his films have always fascinated me.

As a movie aficionado, I had an exclusive chat with Douglas Booth about Terrence Malick’s latest project, “The Way of the Wind,” years after he wrapped up filming. In our conversation, Booth shared, “Malick is a unique director to work with. It was a privilege to be part of his team. Unfortunately, I can’t disclose much about my role in the movie as it’s shrouded in secrecy. I admire Malick’s approach and his preference for maintaining a tight-knit production.” Booth further emphasized, “I can only say that working with him was an extraordinary experience.

What I can add is that his work style is unique, unlike anything I’ve encountered before. He primarily focuses on natural light, camera movement, and script flexibility. His goal is to generate genuine, authentic moments. He refers to this approach as ‘torpedoes.’ Essentially, he aims to take you by surprise in a scene and produce something raw and real.

Speaking as a passionate cinephile, let me tell you, this man never runs out of steam! He’s always on the hunt for capturing those magic moments – be it you, or a plane passing overhead, or even a bird flying by. What truly sets him apart is his heartfelt spirit, which shines through even after the cameras stop rolling. Every time I work with him, he sends me a heartfelt, handwritten thank-you note about our sessions. He’s one of a kind, and it was an honor to collaborate with him on this film. I can hardly wait to see how it unfolds, and though my role is small, there are so many talented actors involved, and I hope everyone enjoys the final product. I think we’re getting close to wrapping up production now.

We can’t wait. Watch this space for more updates.

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2025-01-12 03:35