TOLAD Is Heading To TIFF
As we thought, with Natalie already heading to the Toronto International Film Festival it was always likely there might be another reason to attend. Confirmation arrived today that her…
As we thought, with Natalie already heading to the Toronto International Film Festival it was always likely there might be another reason to attend. Confirmation arrived today that her…
The trailer for Natalie's directorial debut, A Tale of Love and Darkness, has arrived and it looks rather glorious. Unfortunately, there are no English subtitles, but the visuals were…
Natalie is on the cover of The Guardian for an interview piece out of Cannes. Thankfully the online version is already up and can be viewed here. It’s clear…
We have another video from Cannes, this time being interviewed by Dior. Thanks to Axwell.
Okay, let’s try and chip away at some of the outstanding Natalie content.
This Deadline interview has some great insight into TOLAD, Natalie admitting that she’s got a very busy period of acting coming up, and this interesting quote about producing.
It’s more about being able to create things for myself. It’s complicated when you’re just an actor, you’re subject to waiting for something good and for someone interesting to offer you something interesting. I’ve worked long enough to know there are certain waves and periods you don’t have the opportunities you’d like to so it really was born out of that. I am hoping to create things I’d be interested in, and makes me less passive in the process. I don’t believe my job as producer is to control. I have strong beliefs in the authority and leadership of the director. I really believe in the importance of that hierarchy.
This Variety interview has some talk of her new projects (Planetarium is up first and will be, at least in part, in French) and talk of the directors who helped her along the way.
Darren Aronofsky was great about reminding me to remember my reason for making it throughout the entire process, which was really helpful to always have the voice I had [from the beginning]. Terry Malick was very supportive, reminding me not to listen to anyone who was trying to make it more conventional. He said, “Don’t listen to people who tell you to have a three-act structure.” And Mike Nichols was very supportive. I had my dream team of people I was calling and asking for help.
Natalie’s writing and directorial feature debut has finally been seen and the early reviews are across the board. No real consensus beyond “it doesn’t suck”.
The most positive so far has been via The Guardian.
Homely, bespectacled Arieh (Gilad Kahana) and even glum little Amos (Amir Tessler) are inevitably overshadowed by Portman’s near-radioactive screen presence. But its on her achievement as a director that her role in this film will be judged, and it’s accurate to say she has done an impressive job, easily the equal of Angelina Jolie, who went similarly serious for her first feature, the Bosnian war drama In the Land of Blood and Honey.) Portman has made a film with something serious and interesting to say about Israel, a nuanced portrait of the place that demonstrates a commitment to, and connection with, her home country. This is an assured, heartfelt debut.
The Telegraph gave the film 3 stars.
The film feels like a personal project for Portman, but thankfully never a vanity one. It’s a fine piece of work – and you sense there’s better to come.
While we await the first reviews of TOLAD and Natalie's appearance at the screening today, how would you like to take a look at a first scene from the…
The official Cannes lineup has been released as well as the page for A Tale of Love and Darkness. With it comes this still from the film and the…