I did not know Poirot was such a popular TV series here! At the beginning of the shooting I was warned David Suchet, who is a brilliant actor, would be acting like Poiro from the very start.
After the Second World War, a life story is portrayed in the war-torn Hamburg; Rachel and her husband, British Colonel Luis, share a house with its previous owners, and there comes to a clash between two worlds what your film is about. The clash between the conqueror and the defeated. How much potential for a serious drama is in that story?
Two things fascinated me when it comes to this conflict between two worlds, this is primarily a unique historical moment. It means the end of the Second World War, and at the same time the period preceding the Cold War. This is an incredible historical moment, and only Rossellini made a film about it. It was a unique moment when Germany was on its knees. The British were facing a dilemma whether to repeat the mistake from the beginning of the First World War and punish Germany or show kindness and treat the Germans in a different way. So the relationship between the characters of Keira Knightley and Alexander Skarsgård, the wife of the British colonel and the German architect, is practically a metaphor for this attitude of the British victors who went from anger to understanding. It is a film of compassion, of forgiving and re-awakening.
How much looking back to the past can help us become better people? How important is our understanding of history for a better present and for an even better future?
This film relates to the present time as well. We did not expect that when we were making the film, but unfortunately it does. Britain and Europe have Brexit, and then there is the rise of nationalism in various countries, nationalism that labels and discriminates against some people because of their place of birth. So we have this relationship between the British woman Rachel and the German man Stefan, where Rachel has to overcome prejudice because of nationalism and generally their situation. I believe society can benefit only from the good deeds of individuals. A thousand good deeds of thousands of good people can make a difference, not any political action that would be carried out by a government or a state.
You directed one episode of the Poirot series. What was your collaboration with actor David Suchet like and what was the experience of making the Poirot?
I did not know Poirot was such a popular TV series here! At the beginning of the shooting I was warned David Suchet, who is a brilliant actor, would be acting like Poiro from the very start. When he eats breakfast, he is Poirot, when he has lunch, he is Poiro, and as long as he is wearing mustache he is Poirot, only when he takes them off, he becomes David.
Can we talk about your next film about Ingrid Bergman?
Well, it is in the process, there is still not much to say, we are still looking for an actress.
What kind of story do you want to tell about her?
As it is known, Ingrid Bergman is of Swedish descent, she was married and had a daughter, but she was in love with Robert Capa, a famous war photographer in the World War II. It was a passionate relationship, which was almost impossible due to her marital status, and he taught her how to be brave and how to fight against the Hollywood system.
