Rumours Directors Hilariously Skewer Dumb Politicians with Us

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As a film enthusiast with over three decades of cinematic adventures under my belt, I must say that the collaboration between Guy Maddin and the Johnson brothers is nothing short of a masterclass in collective creativity. Their ability to work seamlessly together, despite the seemingly chaotic number of directors on one project, is a testament to their mutual respect and shared vision.

As a movie enthusiast, I recently found myself immersed in the whimsical and absurd world of “Rumours,” a masterpiece from Canadian filmmakers Guy Maddin, Evan Johnson, and Galen Johnson. This film is a side-splitting satire that takes aim at the G7 – an influential political alliance comprising Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Union.

Rumours Mocks Power and Politics, Not Specific Politicians

During our interview, the three directors explicitly stated they had no intention of making fun of any current or past G7 leaders such as Germany’s Angela Merkel or US President Joe Biden. Maddin explained, “We took care to avoid specific mentions“. The reason being, movies can take a considerable amount of time to produce. By the time their film is released, there could be different leaders in office, and they had no desire to create targeted parodies or satires. Evan Johnson agreed with this sentiment.

Regardless of the actual names we used, they bore no resemblance to them. It was a self-imposed rule. For instance, Angela Merkel is well-known as the most prominent German female politician. However, our character bears no resemblance to her performance whatsoever. There’s another lesser-known German woman politician who our character is based on, but I won’t disclose her name.

Similarly, Galen Johnson remarked, “Just as there are characteristics in other leaders that stand out due to their human traits, certain presidents may appear aged and tired. However, it wasn’t President Biden we had in mind when causing our president to doze off.” In a humorous twist, Johnson joked:

Four years ago, when we first wrote this, Joe wasn’t as tired as he is now. At that time, we believed our idea to be unique, but unfortunately, it seems it was already known.

How to Make a Film with Three Directors

Over the years, Maddin (renowned for films like “My Winnipeg” and “Brand Upon the Brain”), along with the Johnson brothers, have collaborated on numerous features and short films. Their collaborative efforts have resulted in critically acclaimed works such as “The Green Fog” and “The Forbidden Room”. With “Rumours”, they’ve embarked on their most ambitious project yet. The question arises: how do they work so effectively together? Let’s delve into the division of labor among three directors in a single film, as explained by Maddin:

During filming, with the camera running, everyone gathered around, watching on the monitor and discussing the shot’s quality. Sometimes the actors like to check their performance on the monitor too. However,

Maddin noted that we tried our best to avoid heated arguments and it’s not something we do often. One concern was that the actors might try to manipulate us as parents to get what they wanted, but fortunately, this didn’t happen. Instead, we all worked together harmoniously, moving forward as one cohesive unit.

Evan Johnson concurs, stating, “We worked with them a bit. There are seven of them. Having that many collaborative actors in every scene is quite unusual. But adding three more individuals to the group feels perfectly suited to our collective environment. I believe it turned out to not be a problem at all.

Johnson notes, “It’s truly delightful to have actors representing diverse nations and cultures collaborating on this project.” He explains that he anticipated their unique perspectives would not only reflect the multifaceted nature of a G7 Summit but also underscore the distinct qualities of the leaders involved. Maddin adds to this by praising the cast’s exceptional talents.

In truth, the performers often figured out many details among themselves, so they didn’t really need our input much. They seemed quite capable of doing their own thing.

Rumours Might ‘Poke a Stick in the Eye’ of Some People Who Need It

As a movie buff, our discussion took a more thought-provoking turn, touching upon the delicate matter of whether certain characterizations might offend some viewers, given the current climate of extreme nationalism. Using Rolando Ravello’s portrayal of Italy’s prime minister as an example, it seemed Galen Johnson and I were both concerned about potential accusations that we, being from Winnipeg, were being disrespectful or sarcastic. Yet, Galen Johnson eloquently addressed this with “If you’re a nationalist like that, I don’t really care what you think.” Evan Johnson echoed the same sentiment firmly.

I’d be pleased if the film provokes some frustration among viewers due to its content. If it does, then I find that satisfying. I appreciate causing a moderate amount of discomfort when it serves a purpose. In other words, I enjoy stirring up controversy, provided we can do so in a measured way.

Prepare to feast your eyes on one of the most unique movies this year! “Rumors” is now playing in select cinemas, courtesy of Bleecker Street. Check out the screenings and venues here.

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2024-10-23 03:03