10 · 11 · 07

Alejandro González Iñárritu and Alfonso Cuarón encourage young film producers to...

Clara Sánchez/Translated by Vicente Castañar

[imagen]Yesterday Alejandro Gonzñalez Iñárritu and Alfonso Cuarón had a press conference. They were both asked about different topics, from their participation at the festival to their opinions about young Mexican filmmakers.

What is your opinion of the movies young filmmakers are producing?
CUARÓN: “I would want for my third film to be as good as Jonas’ first one. The young generation, Jonas’ generation, the ones who made Cochochi grew up knowing how to film; they are accustomed to having and using cameras and editing programs. They don’t really need to go to film school to learn the techniques. That white elephant we called filming was demystified by them. They have a free and fearless way to making films. They are far away from all classic preconceptions, but they have the challenge of the new formats of distribution.”
IÑÁRRITU: From Pedro González and Carlos Armella’s work I understood that they can make an incredible film like Toro Negro with any digital camera. I went with them to see some American filmmakers and their movie caused such a good impression a lot of people wanted to distribute it.

What do you think about Déficit? Someone who watched Gael’s movie told him that he didn’t understand it...
IÑARRITU: One must learn how to accept criticism. The public is entitled to not understanding art, art must be felt and then a rational experience arises. The person who made that comment is entitled to making it. I was told by many people that they didn’t understand 21 gramos, but they did feel it. I think it was a good thing that Gael tried this new area; this will allow him to be a better actor because now he has seen the other side of the coin. I watched this film with Alfonso Cuaron and Walter Salles, we all agreed that Gael knows what he must do.
ALFONSO: I think there is a misunderstanding about questions and answers sessions after watching a movie, people think it is a McCarthy style court case; it is a very cheap way to judge a movie. If someone can’t understand the movie the director doesn’t have to explain it. I think filmmakers should talk about different topics but asking him to explain his film is a petty thing to do. After the filmmaker has shot his film it doesn’t belong to him anymore.

[imagen]IÑARRITU: You explain your art work by creating it, being interrogated is not a good way to explain it. Art is not driven by a reasoning principle. It is ok if the public doesn’t understand it.
CUARON: Gael has done very nice things; he has benefited many young filmmakers. Canana supports the making of documentaries, it is a great social responsibility. He could just be doing nothing with is life, like other famous young men. One shouldn’t focus on the negative aspects, Gael has done a lot of good things. Why focus on the bad small details, we are living great moments where we could change humanity.

What are you doing here at the festival?
IÑÁRRITU: Tomorrow I have a meeting with the documentary and short film makers, we are having a discussion. I also come to see my friend Cuarón. Tonight I will be introducing a film called Lonesome, which is a silent film from 1928, this film really impressed me when I saw it on Telluride Festival, France. It was filmed by an extraordinary man, Paul Fejos, who was an anthropologist, pilot, doctor and was even held hostage by a tribe in Madagascar. He was a really interesting man, he lived in Europe and in Hollywood he had all the opportunities and open doors to film whatever his creative genius dictated.

Lonesome reflects an innocent style, it is a cinematography treasure, I would dare