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KINEMATRIX First of all, I’d like to know if
you see any relation between GORDOS and your previous great movie
Azul Oscuro Casi Negro
(2006)? Do you believe that these two movies have something in common even
though, apparently, they talk about totally different issues?
Daniel Sánchez ARèVALO I
believe that my universe is always the same, since the things that I’m
interested in or touched by don’t really change: love, sex, relations
between lovers and members of a family, constant necessity of finding your
own place in the world, of accepting your limits and facing your fears. You
can find all this aspects in both movies, though the surrounding and formula
are completely different. I think GORDOS is much more risky, more extreme.
It’s about the lack of moderation, that’s why the movie, the characters and
their stories were meant to be more excessive too. There’s more comedy in
the comedy and more drama in the drama. And it’s all even more difficult to
reconcile in order to obtain unity and coherence. I hope having achieved it.
While watching GORDOS I noticed some
references to Almodovar’s movies, such as, for example, the mix of comic and
dramatic elements, plentitude of colors and homosexual themes. Could you
tell us which Spanish or International director has inspired you the most?
If there are any references, I haven’t put them in the movie consciously.
It’s pretty interesting since it’s clear that outside of Spain people notice
some similarities between our movies while here, in Spain, no one has ever
mentioned them. I admire the directors that are capable of telling their
stories in their own, particular way and at the same time manage to gather
numerous audience and fill the theatres. Among the Spanish directors I could
mention: Almodóvar, Amenábar, Fernando León, Julio Medem. And speaking about
international movie makers, these would be: Billy Wilder, Woody Allen, Spike
Lee, P.T. Anderson, Todd Field, Todd Solondz.
The mass media act as if the GORDOS didn’t
really exist; further more, if they do consider them being one of us, they
always try to marginalize them and treat them as a lesser sort of human
beings. So, would it be right to say that your movie is, to some point, a
form of rebellion, an attack on the modern model of beauty?
Of course. The movie is definitely not an ode to
the physical beauty. On the contrary, what it wants to provoke is that each
character, and the audience as well, accepts his own body, is able to look
at himself in the mirror feeling no shame and, finally, even likes his
physical appearance. I wanted to create a beautiful picture of obesity, so
that these naked, fat bodies don’t provoke rejection but a kind of visual
pleasure.
And why is the problem of homosexuality a recurring issue of your movies?
Does it have something to do with all these changes Spanish society is going
through?
To some extend it does. The Franco regime and the repressions that it
triggered are the reasons that slowed down the normalization of
homosexuality and, somehow, this issue still provokes polemics and hasn’t
been truly accepted by the society. But, personally, I often refer to this
problem to show the particular issues I’m so interested in: being unable to
come to terms with some things that are in a constant denial. In other
words, facing your real desires.
Why make use of comedy if you plan to talk about rather serious problems,
such as lack of self acceptance, of communication between parents and
children, like prejudice, etc.?
Well, as for me, a comedy makes sense only if it has a solid dramatic base.
All of my stories are very dramatic, but, then, when I start putting them on
paper, they somehow turn out to be a comedy. I like going against the flow
instead of with it. I’m not interested in pure drama, neither in pure
comedy. I’m trying to avoid the obvious. As a spectator, I enjoy a movie if
it’s capable of making me laugh and touch me emotionally at the same time.
And this is also what I’m trying to provoke with my movies as a director.
And the last question: what movies are you eager or at least planning to
make in the nearest future? Do you already have some specific projects in
mind or some issues that you’re particularly into? Do you think of filming
outside of Spain?
I’m open to all kinds of stories, I don’t really like classifying them
though. I’d love to have a long-lasting career, full of movies that would be
interesting and different from one another. Right now I’m somewhere in
between of a hooligan romantic comedy and a family drama. Of course, in the
end it’s gonna be a mix of these two. Obviously, it would be great to have
an opportunity of making a movie in a different country and I’m going to do
it if only I plan a movie that requires a change of scenery. I truly do
enjoy filming in Spain and I don’t feel any kind of necessity or pressure to
go to Hollywood, whatever the circumstances. So, for today, steady as it
goes.
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cura di HOLOWNIA