FREUDS LAST SESSION: Bringing Lewis and Freud back to life

Aleteia EN

Aleteia interviews Matthew Goode (C.S. Lewis) and Matthew Brown (Director) about their new film "Freud's Last Session"

Transcript

00:00 [Music]

00:09 So, a wonderful film.

00:11 Thank you.

00:12 Yeah, a rollercoaster of emotions and wonderful acting.

00:17 Matthew, can I ask you a question?

00:20 So, C.S. Lewis is quite a complex character.

00:24 What did you do to research for the role?

00:27 Yes, I mean, what a complex history the man had.

00:32 I mean, one of the great things about playing a real character,

00:35 particularly when they're famous, is that you do get a lot of documented stuff.

00:38 So, you know, you get the timelines of their lives and everything else.

00:42 And there was a lot of writing that he'd done,

00:45 and so it was nice to be able to go and read some of his work.

00:47 I think he'd only published four novels by that point,

00:49 but I mean, I'd read all of his Narnia stuff when I was a kid.

00:53 And what I didn't know was there was a book by him later on in 1955,

00:57 I think, called Surprised by Joy,

00:59 and that really delves into some of his early life in his own words.

01:04 And he seemed to be a pretty truthful individual.

01:07 So that was kind of fascinating.

01:10 And then, I mean, ultimately, though, I really loved the way the script worked.

01:14 I mean, not only do you see him in his days of atheism and then theism,

01:19 but, you know, when he's converted as well to the mainstay.

01:23 And it's just a real treat to have someone that is that complex.

01:27 But, I mean, you have to throw all that research out,

01:30 and then you have the script, which I thought was beautifully drawn.

01:33 And then just try to bring his humanity.

01:38 Because for periods of time in this, I'm not talking.

01:42 I'm getting batted ideologically.

01:47 I was going to ask you about that, actually, because, you know,

01:50 there's a myriad of emotions.

01:52 There's anger.

01:53 There's absolutely everything.

01:55 And Anthony Hopkins gives such a wonderful portrayal of Freud.

01:59 And was that just not totally exhausting after you did a scene like that?

02:03 You know, because sometimes Lewis responds well and sometimes he's a bit.

02:07 It's seven pages a day.

02:08 And it was exhausting for me as a 40-year-old,

02:11 let alone someone who's in their 80s.

02:14 Yeah, and it was, you know, and also the elephant in the room is that he's

02:20 already played C.S. Lewis in one of my favourite films, Shadowlands,

02:23 back in the day.

02:24 So, you know, I was a bit worried I was going to be intimidated.

02:28 But the great thing about Tony is that he's so warm and genuine and brilliant

02:32 and excited and he's done so much work on his Freud that, and luckily,

02:36 I knew all the script before I knew the whole thing off by heart.

02:40 Because I didn't know how we were going to shoot it.

02:42 But it turns out we were going to shoot it in narrative order,

02:44 which was wonderful.

02:46 And it was, you know, from day one, there was no intimidation factor.

02:52 Thank God, because, I mean, who wants to work under those?

02:54 I know.

02:56 But it was, for me, just an acting masterclass that I got to see up close.

03:02 I think you did a great job of, you know, discussing things with him.

03:09 It came across very well that C.S. Lewis, actually,

03:12 you were very persuasive in your role.

03:15 So, well done.

03:17 Thank you very much.

03:19 Yes.

03:20 And, Matt, can I ask you, what compelled you as a director,

03:25 and then you co-wrote the screenplay, didn't you?

03:30 What compelled you to do this?

03:32 I think that, well, it was sort of thrust upon me,

03:36 the script by somebody who said, "Here you go, take a look at this."

03:40 And it was in an early, early form of it.

03:42 And I just was immediately -- there was the themes.

03:46 The themes of it got their hooks into me.

03:49 And then I didn't think it was ever actually going to get made,

03:53 because who's going to make a movie about Freud and C.S. Lewis

03:57 and this sort of obscure play?

04:00 But it was all right.

04:02 I just fell in love with the content of it so much

04:06 that I just kept coming back to it and kept working on it.

04:09 And slowly but surely, like when that happens,

04:11 then eventually it builds momentum.

04:13 And then you get passionate enough about it that you're like,

04:16 "Oh, wow, I am going to make this."

04:18 And then it just sort of wills itself.

04:20 So, yeah, it was those -- the bigger themes that I think really did it.

04:25 This question of God versus science, I mean, I think,

04:29 as I said a few times, but it's the question of our time, really,

04:34 in some respects.

04:36 And I think they don't have to be enemies,

04:38 and that there's some safe ground on both sides,

04:42 and people need to listen.

04:44 And I hoped from making this film that maybe some conversation could come.

04:50 Yes, because, I mean, obviously our culture seems more and more polarized now.

04:55 People don't like to have the difficult discussions.

04:58 And here you've got two men, like two intellects,

05:02 and they're having conversations with a lot of respect.

05:05 Yeah.

05:06 And a lot of fervor.

05:07 But was it difficult to sort of convince the studio to let you do this sort of film?

05:12 It was extremely difficult, especially because they didn't want to do this

05:17 kind of film.

05:18 So it was an independent film.

05:21 Although Sony Classics, I have to say, they came on very early,

05:26 and they were excited about it, making this film.

05:30 So that was great.

05:32 But it really was an independent film.

05:34 And it's hard.

05:35 These kinds of films are just really hard to make.

05:37 I mean, we created a foundation, actually,

05:40 after my last film, Maninou Infinity, called the Infinity Arts Foundation,

05:43 which helped support these kinds of films.

05:47 And the Sloan Foundation, who I spoke with recently,

05:49 they also support this.

05:51 So it's really a tricky subject.

05:54 But I think it's important that these kinds of films get made.

05:56 And when they do get made, get hopefully made well.

05:59 And to have people like Matthew and Tony be willing to take a chance to put

06:03 themselves in this is -- I mean, it's amazing.

06:06 It's your greatest dream for this kind of film,

06:09 because maybe then it can reach an audience.

06:11 I mean, honestly, it serves as outreach, in a sense, to like --

06:14 I mean, it serves as outreach for people to think.

06:20 You know?

06:22 And debate and have conversation.

06:25 And that's what I'm hoping people take from this.

06:28 For example, this is a question for both of you.

06:32 If this had been presented to a real-life debating society,

06:36 who do you think would have won?

06:39 Lewis or Freud?

06:41 I mean, I suspect it would have been a tie, isn't it?

06:50 That's a very convenient answer.

06:53 I mean, let's face it, Christianity is dying out.

06:59 Slowly but surely.

07:01 The numbers compared to that would have been like 1939.

07:06 So the cynical answer is to say, well, probably Freud.

07:13 But I think as Matthew has already said, Freud's theories would have changed

07:17 by another 80 years now.

07:20 So we would be thinking differently.

07:23 He would be thinking differently.

07:25 He might even be converted.

07:27 Well, actually, there's a question for you, too, Matthew.

07:31 Because Lewis had such strong convictions.

07:34 By playing the part of him, did it make you examine

07:37 and explore your own views of religion?

07:41 Well, I've always been rather admiring of people who have faith.

07:47 Over various different religions.

07:51 I think there's a wonder and a beauty to -- and a strength in those kind of beliefs.

07:58 Mine, I try not to talk about any of that stuff on my own behalf.

08:04 I can understand that.

08:06 It hasn't really changed.

08:08 But then I think that's one of the things about this.

08:12 My father never believed.

08:14 And then when he was on his deathbed, suddenly he had the vicar coming around.

08:18 You never know when faith might step into your life.

08:21 And religion might step into your life.

08:23 It's not something that's a strong part of my life at the moment.

08:26 But you know what? I'm not going to ruin it up.

08:29 Well, you've got plenty of quotes up your sleeve.

08:33 Yes, I did. Some good ones.

08:37 Very quickly, Matt, did you have a favourite moment from the film?

08:41 Yeah, I think so.

08:43 I like it the -- well, I have a few.

08:46 But the ending, I think when they try to say goodbye to each other is my favourite moment.

08:51 Because it's this recognition that it's over for Freud.

08:55 But they built this friendship and respect.

08:58 And they totally don't disagree with each other.

09:01 They kind of found a friendship and a love that transcends their disagreements.

09:08 That I feel palpably when I watch that.

09:10 And that really makes me happy.

09:13 That's great.

09:15 Well, gentlemen, thank you so very much indeed.

09:17 A wonderful film. And best of luck.

09:19 Merry Christmas.

09:21 You too. Merry Christmas.

09:23 Bye.

09:25 (Applause)

09:27 [BLANK_AUDIO]

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