Director Stephen Frears chat to us about British cinema, Victoria & Abdul, and directing Dame Judi Dench… Its a thematic follow on from director John MaddensMrs Brown, and this story is directed by Stephen Frears.
Theres an obvious similarity, particularly with casting, toMrs Brown.
What was it you felt you could do differently?
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Didnt think about it.
You completely putMrs Browns existence out of mind?
I mean, I didnt know she would.
It never really crossed my mind that there was another possibility.
Im not, Im not at all.
There seems to be a deep sense of the political about it.
Is this a little Trojan horse?
If it is its a huge one, isnt it?
It just comes out straight forwardly and says, good for Muslims.
I dont think it would go down very well with Donald Trump.
But I dont expect the revolution to take place.
No, but theres been a political movement over the last few years in the UK and the US…
Yes, I know all this.
Its a provocative film.
I imagine thats why Lee [Hall the screenwriter] settled on it.
Whats the hope with it?
Do you think it will achieve anything?
I understand youre a Republican.
It strikes me as a little bit of an odd subject choice.
No, not really, when you go into it.
I wonder why that may be?
I imagine it takes a lot of balls to be queen.
Thatll be quote of the week, wont it?
Its a tough job, isnt it?
You raise an interesting point there.
Do you imagine her attitude would… Its curious that one cant predict how many strange and silly things will be said in a week.
Well, her capacity to say silly things is limitless.
In terms of subject matter, then, lets stick on this theme.
It hadnt crossed my mind.
I said, I think, I suppose failure is more interesting, success isnt terribly interesting.
Does this meanTheresathe movie is imminent?
Oh, what a terrible thought.
No, I promise.
Well I dont know, someone might write something brilliant.
Im quite looking forward to Stephen FrearsBrexit.
Someone would get it.
Someone would write it.
I never quite know what they are.
What are identity politics?
Whether youre a man or a woman?
Well, I think it goes beyond that.
If youre familiar with websites like Reddit and Tumblr…
No, I dont.
Im not internet generation.
I can write email!
That happened to me in America.
I made a film about Muhammed Ali, and the American journalists said but, youre not black.
You arent black, you cant do it.
Well Im not a Muslim.
Ive never thought about that before, but now you say it, yes.
I can see what youre saying.
I didnt know the line I remember Meryl wearing the t-shirt saying, whats it?
I remember an African pupil coming to my school, theyre quite vivid [memories].
So for you then, theres still a fascination… Its more fun being alive now than it was in the 50s, I promise.
Was there any influence of Bollywood cinema or the cinema of India onVictoria And Abdul?
I dont terribly like Bollywood, Im too snobbish for that.
Not a fan of dancing?
It would have been quite nice to see Judi Dench having a little dance.
Quite right, I never thought of that.
On the subject of Judi, youve been working with her for quite a while.
Does that become difficult, directing a friend?
No, not her.
Anyone can do it.
Thats a relationship you presumably will be continuing for more films?
I dont know, I dont know, but shes a doddle to direct.
Well, and her qualities as a human being thats so affecting.
Shes so interesting, and such a brilliant actress.
And Eddies merged into…
Eddies great, I dont know where that came from.
It wasnt my idea, somebody else suggested him.
Oh, all right.
I dont think I knew quite what to expect, and he was brilliant.
Apart from the beard concealing him, which I think…
I dont know whether it helped, but it certainly was a surprise.
It was hard to see him.
I like the fact that hes the least comic character in the film.
Hes gone catastrophically wrong.
Do you think hes on the right path now?
No, I think hes a genius as a comic.
He did it one night for us in the Isle of Wight and he was just brilliant.
It must have been a good experience, a private gig…
He did it in a public theatre, but we were all there.
He was brilliant, brilliant.
Its interesting that hes become such a well-regarded actor as well.
I dont know that he is, is he?
You know more than I know.
Im really proud of his performance in this film.
Actually, one of the most striking things about this film was the series of strong performances.
Well thats not there are a lot of very good actors in England, very, very good.
No, theyre quite conventional choices.
Tim Pigott-Smith was a very, very good actor, ad they can do all that stuff.
Theyre very good at hierarchy, and they can do the jokes.
Yes, there has to be.
Its about the British Empire.
Its much like a David Lean film, except that its the wrong way round.
How do you go about achieving that?
I would give the credit to Eric Fellner [the producer ofVictoria And Abdul].
Eric kept saying, make it big, and he actually put his money where his mouth is.
And then they to wear costumes.
Is there a difference in approach, directing a scene with countless servants?
Im curious about your process as a director…
Get on with it.
Get on with it?
Theres nothing more than make it work?
Or is that because its such second nature?
And I must have remembered a particular shot, doesnt the horse go onto the table?
So its quite informed without being dependent on that.
Not good at all.
Its complicated, because a lot of very skilful people get supported by the Americans to make blockbusters.
Well theyre not films Im terribly interested in.
Do you benefit from using the same crews at all?
Well hes quite right.
And so he should.
What would you do, if you had absolute control…
Of what?
Stephen Frears, dictator for life, what might you do to improve the British film industry?
Its not like that, its gone.
I can remember seeingNorth by Northwestwith my family.
I can remember my brother taking us all to seeOn The WaterfrontandHigh Noon, thats all gone.
I dont like watching films on TV.
So thats in terms of the actual cinema experience itself?
People have the right to do whatever they want.
I personally think the cinema is where you should see films.
My daughter, the idea of a black and white film, she thought was completely ridiculous.
To me the idea of a colour film is ridiculous.
I try not to have those sort of prejudices.
Very true, I suppose.
Those battles are lost.
All you’re able to do is make better films.
You, presumably, would prefer people to seeVictoria And Abdulon a large cinema screen though?
You sit at home with your wife and kids, and its not the same.
Its quite primitive, isnt it?
That sounds like a really exciting experience.
Well no, because theyd then be showing Odette, or whatever it was.
With the industry now, there is the non-theatrical route, with companies like Netflix…
I like going to the pictures.
I like going to the cinema at the end of the road.
Thats how I grew up, its what I still like.
Any position you take is multi-faceted.
You were honoured at Venice Film Festival last week, werent you?
Thank you very much, and I love going to Venice, but its still a sort of ghetto.
And I call them the pictures, which is what I called them as a kid.
I remember going to a screening ofIf I worked onIf with my wife.
Where do you live?
He was always ridiculous.
Ifmust have been a very strange experience to work on.
You just knew how topical it was.
I didnt quite know… TheLaundrettehad the same immediacy.
And so you plug into the zeitgeist.
On a good day you plug into the zeitgeist.
Stephen Frears, Thank you very much.
Victoria And Abdulis in UK cinemas from Friday.
