Cate Blanchett ‘Never, Ever’ Thought She Could Work in the Film Industry: ‘I Didn’t Think I Was That Girl’

by

Cate Blanchett “never, ever” thought she “could work in the film industry.”

She shared that she had contentedly chosen a career in theater, but never saw herself as ‘that girl’ in films. There seemed to be an unspoken rule in the movie industry about a woman’s expiration date and only specific types of women were given the opportunity to shine on screen while others were overlooked,” she expressed during the Rotterdam Film Festival on Saturday.

Watching Visconti’s “The Stranger” awakened her love for the cinema.

Experiencing the magic of cinema has been a transformative journey for me, led by our French teacher. While I may have learned more about the art of filmmaking than French during that excursion, it left an indelible mark on my memory. To this day, I can still recall the captivating tale unfolded before us. The cinematic landscape we traversed was particularly vibrant in Australia at the time; masterpieces like ‘Picnic at Hanging Rock,’ ‘Sweetie,’ and ‘An Angel at My Table’ graced our screens. These films sparked within me a desire to become a part of that creative world, to step into the frame myself.

On Saturday, the award-winning actor created quite a buzz at the festival, as ticket holders scrambled to find a prime position in the lengthy line that didn’t seem to end. Prior to this, Blanchett had also advocated for the recently established Displacement Film Fund during the festivities, an initiative dedicated to supporting filmmakers who have been displaced.

Concerning movies, she openly shared her diverse preferences, often referring to them as “varied.” Previously, she was a fan of many horror films. However, since becoming a mother, she’s completely given up on watching those due to her affection for her children. While she cherishes her kids, she does express some sadness about this change.

She also opened up about “Rumours,” joined on the stage by Canadian filmmaker Guy Maddin.

Initially, I believed we were heading to your garage in Winnipeg, so I prepared accordingly. However, our destination turned out to be a forest in Budapest instead.

The movie, helmed by Maddin, Evan Johnson, and Galen Johnson, was labeled by EbMaster as an “excitingly humorous shaggy-dog satire,” where a formal G7 summit unexpectedly transforms into a puzzling, muddied, and secluded zombie outbreak scenario. It made its debut at Cannes Film Festival.

Maddin frequently found himself watching YouTube videos of G7 summits, for some odd reason. The way politicians move and gesture on a global stage seems unnatural to me. It’s like they’re playing a role in a silent movie, a peculiar pantomime reserved for world leaders. I had to skip my favorite part where Macron was using two cell phones at once, checking texts on both simultaneously,” Maddin reminisced, contemplating the idea of setting it entirely to the tune of national anthems.

I looked forward to our chat and we ended up chatting for around an hour. Interestingly, we didn’t discuss the project during that time. The conversation was quite thrilling for the first 60 minutes! I must admit, I was hesitant to bring up the idea of watching a movie, but just as I was about to back out, you surprised me by saying ‘Let’s give it a try’.

“Someone had to,” laughed Blanchett – but she was a fan even before that.

She remarked that “Maddin’s ‘My Winnipeg’ was the one that resonated deeply with me.” She found it to be stunningly poignant, brimming with nostalgia, and oddly humorous. It struck her as both utterly bizarre and remarkably familiar.

“I am driven by self-pity and driven by it,” deadpanned Maddin, also sharing his favorites.

I’ll act as if I’m rummaging through the Criterion Collection. I must admit, I’m a poor actor, but I once shared a scene with Laura Dern, Diane Kruger, and Kristen Stewart, which unfortunately ended up on the cutting room floor for a movie. That was in ‘Notes on a Scandal,’ a fantastic film where Cate Blanchett had an affair with a high school student, causing Judi Dench to become extremely jealous. I adore it, so it’s going into my collection. Speaking of Cate, I can’t forget ‘Tár.’ She was absolutely robbed at the Oscars! What do we have here? It’s ‘Manifesto,’ where she plays a dozen characters, which is incredible. And that’s a boxset of her plays! Thank goodness. Oh, and another boxset of ‘Documentary Now!’ – Cate is in two of my favorite episodes. She gives an incredibly stunning portrayal of Marina Abramovic.

No stranger to the fest, Maddin was already a subject of a retrospective at IFFR back in 2003.

‘Eraserhead’ left quite an impact on me. Farewell, David. It kept me awake at night, and it astonished me that David created a film based on my experiences.” He found inspiration in Lynch and Buñuel’s work, which gave him courage. “I never thought I could be a writer,” he said, “but maybe I could create films instead,” he mused about his initial inspirations.

Blanchett expressed her fondness for the tradition of using a VHS player, finding charm in its fragile nature and appreciating how it would deteriorate over time, prompting her to view it differently. Her most frequently played VHS tape was ‘Jane Fonda’s Workout’.

They advise you to discover your unique style, but I’d put it this way: Borrow freely. It’s a tribute and a means of bonding by acknowledging influences. You’re engaging in a conversation with that director, performer, or cameraman. What you take from them, molded by your own perspective, will be transformed beyond recognition. The quest for ‘novelty’ or groundbreaking work can sometimes lead to a trap,” she pointed out, adding that “I learn more from my mistakes.” Yet, the festival highlighted her numerous achievements with a montage showcasing her contributions.

Afterward, Maddin exclaimed, “I just had an embarrassing accident. Why on earth did you collaborate with me? Goodness gracious!” She also boasted about her performance as Bob Dylan, beating Timothée Chalamet’s portrayal in the movie “I’m Not There.

I find it much easier when someone approaches me by saying, ‘I haven’t had a chance to watch your film yet.’

Read More

2025-02-01 23:47