(MENAFN- Arab Times) NEW YORK Oct 25 (Agencies): Actress Juliette Binoche has long been fascinated by war photography she says and often wonders about the people who risk their lives to capture such photos. Who are they and what are they like
She got a crash course when preparing for her new movie '1000 Times Good Night' in which she plays a photojournalist and mother whose personal risks wreak havoc on her family. Known for her intensive preparation for films for 'The Lovers on the Bridge' for example she slept in the streets of Paris to experience life as a homeless person angering her own mother Binoche interviewed war photojournalists to get a sense of what drives them. 'The passion they have for their work can become an obsession' she says. 'You want to have a family and yet you can't live without your passion. How is it possible to live with both' Norwegian director Erik Poppe says he based the film on his own experiences as a photojournalist. But he decided to make the central character a woman he says because he felt it would intensify the sense of conflict between one's profession and one's family. Binoche's character Rebecca has a husband and two daughters all of whom suffer in various ways from what she puts them through. It's not lost on either the director or his leading lady that this is a particularly apt time to focus on the dangers of being a war journalist with the recent beheadings of journalists in Syria at the hands of Islamic State militants and other deaths in the past few years. 'It's going to be harder and harder for people to do this work' Poppe notes. The film begins in Afghanistan where Rebecca is documenting the last hours of a Taleban suicide bomber in this case a woman. No male photographer would be allowed to see such intimate preparations as the dressing of the bomber ending with the fitting of her suicide vest. But Rebecca wants even better photos so she asks to ride in the bomber's car into Kabul. Exiting the car she snaps yet a few more and in doing so inadvertently attracts the attention of the police. The ensuing struggle results in the premature detonation of the bomb. Rebecca is seriously wounded but is luckier than the civilians nearby who are killed. Scene 'We talked about that scene a lot' Binoche says. 'Rebecca tries to warn people nearby but yet she pushes it. It's always this question of how far can you go as a human being. Why didn't she say to the police 'It's a suicide bomber.' It's hard. You're working with your instinct trying to cause as little harm as possible and yet getting information to the world.' Poppe notes that the film tries not to judge Rebecca. 'It's not black and white' he says. 'She's trying to tell a story. The fact is they were going out to kill people maybe many more. But a situation like this can break you apart. ' Indeed when Rebecca arrives home to recuperate she is broken and wracked with guilt. She promises that she'll stop. But when an opportunity arises again this time in Africa her photographer's instincts kick in yet again with still more harrowing results for her family. The ending which brings her back to Afghanistan where she began isn't totally clear. 'It's not really about the answer it's about the questioning' Binoche says. 'Definitely she cannot carry on the way she did because it went really too far. But what I love about art is that it's not for answering it's for raising questions.' It's a busy time for Binoche a 1996 Oscar winner for 'The English Patient' who at 50 is still one of France's most glamorous actresses. She's also getting attention for 'Clouds of Sils Maria' in which she appears with Kristen Stewart playing an older actress reviving a play that made her famous 20 years earlier. Binoche is known for working outside the studio system both the Hollywood system and in her own country she points out. 'Very quickly I felt the need to be an outsider of ANY system' she says. 'I knew that speaking English was the medium I had to travel with I got that very early on.' 'To do a few commercial films so that then I can then do this many independent films for me it doesn't work that way' she adds. 'I only go for what I really love. I'm not against commercial if it interests me. But the choice has to come not from fear. That's the key. Choosing from fear you are not connected to your root. Who doesn't want to have success But the real success at the end of the day is (doing something) I care for and learning something while doing it.' Also: LOS ANGELES: FilmNation Entertainment has acquired film rights to Greg Mitchell's book proposal for Berlin Wall drama 'The Tunnels' and attached 'Captain Phillips' director Paul Greengrass to helm. Mark Gordon ('The Messenger' 'Saving Private Ryan') will produce the escape drama with FilmNation which is continuing to amplify its production and financing activity on high-profile projects. 'The Tunnels' is the untold true story of a great escape before the Berlin Wall fell in 1989. The story focuses on a group of West Germans trying to get their loved ones out of East Berlin with the unlikely help of American news networks who funded their expedition. The deal was brokered by Aaron Ryder and Alison Cohen on behalf of FilmNation and CAA. 'Finding an untold true story of this caliber is such a rarity' Ryder said. 'Greg's proposal will make for a very human and cinematic experience. We have no doubt that Mark's producing and Paul's directing will make audiences around the world as excited about this film as we are.' Greengrass' directing credits include 'United 93' and 'The Bourne Ultimatum.' Mitchell has written 'The Campaign of the Century' (winner of the Goldsmith Book Prize) and 'Tricky Dick and the Pink Lady.' He has also co-authored two books with Robert Jay Lifton and a baseball memoir 'Joy in Mudville.' He is co-producer of the current documentary 'Following the Ninth' on the global political influence of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony and is co-writing the companion book 'Journeys With Beethoven.' 'Paul and I have been looking for a project to work on together for some time' Gordon said. 'Separately we have both been fascinated by stories around the Berlin Wall. While the wall fell in 1989 its consequences are still being felt today. We are thrilled to be working with FilmNation to bring this emotional story to the screen.' The Mark Gordon Company is currently in production on several television series including 'Grey's Anatomy' (ABC) 'Criminal Minds' (CBS) 'Ray Donovan' (Showtime) and its most recent project 'Benched' a courtroom comedy for USA Network staring Eliza Coupe and Jay Harrington set to premiere on Oct 28. Gordon's past film credits include 'Day After Tomorrow' 'Speed' 'The Patriot' and 'Wonder Boys'; he develoing 'Jobs' for Sony. Michelle Wolkoff will oversee 'The Tunnels' for the shingle. FilmNation is currently in pre-production on Denis Villeneuve's 'Story of Your Life' with Amy Adams starring and in development on 'The Good House' with Meryl Streep and Robert De Niro and 'In the Event of a Moon Disaster' with Tate Taylor directing. Its releases this year include 'A Most Wanted Man' starring Philip Seymour Hoffman and 'The Rover' staring Guy Pearce. Upcoming releases include 'The Imitation Game' starring Benedict Cumberbatch and J.C. Chandor's 'A Most Violent Year' starring Oscar Isaac and Jessica Chastain. CAA represents Mitchell Greengrass and Gordon. Mitchell is also represented by Gary Morris at the David Black Agency.
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.