“Humanity is losing the art of conversation.”
These were the words of American actress Julia Roberts about her new film After The Huntthat touches the issue of sexual assault and that, according to critics, could generate controversy at the audience.
The film, which has just been presented at the Venice Film Festival, follows the story of a student from Yale University who accuses a university professor of rape.
Neither the version of the student’s facts nor that of the teacher are presented as completely credible, and the film sows doubts about both parties.
Roberts acknowledged that the film would cause debate and commented: “We are challenging people to have a conversation since they feel excited about that or that they get angry at that, it depends on each one.”
He added: “There are many ancient arguments that rejuvenate in this film in a way that does create conversation.”
Roberts plays the University Professor Alma, who is trapped between a star student named Maggie (Ayo Edebiri) and one of her colleagues and friends, Hank (Andrew Garfield).
When he was told that several journalists left the press projection questioning the morality of the film, Roberts replied: “This is how we wanted them to feel.”
“Everyone comes out with these different feelings, emotions and points of view. And you realize what you think firmly and what your convictions are, because we remove everything for you.”
Controversial
It is likely that After The Hunt It causes a similar debate when Amazon is released at the end of this year, and could be seen as controversial by the ambiguity surrounding the student’s testimony.
The film does not adopt a clear position on one side or another, Roberts said. “It is not so much that we are making a statement, we are just sharing these lives for this moment, and then we want everyone to leave and talk to each other.”
He added: “For me, that is the most exciting part, because at this moment we are losing the art of conversation in humanity, and if making this film makes everyone talk more to each other, it is the most exciting thing we could achieve.”
The film is directed by the Italian Luca Guadagnino, whose previous works include Call me by your name and Challengerswhile actress Nora Garrett debuts as a screenwriter.
“There was a very large wealth and complexity in all the characters, and that is a dream,” said Edebiri, better known by the television series The Bear.
“Being challenged by the type of character in the best way, for others, this is how you grow and that is the type of film that I really enjoy see. Something you say: ‘I have to see it again’, because perhaps the point of view that I had at the beginning is completely different in the end.”
At different moments of the film, Alma leans towards different sides, as she obtains more information from both parties.
However, Roberts rejected that his character’s partial support to Hank and his doubt towards Maggie revive an detrimental antiphminist narrative.
“I do not necessarily believe that you are reliving an argument in which women face or do not support each other,” he said. “There are many ancient arguments that rejuvenate in this film in a way that does create conversation.”
As more information comes to light during the film, Alma realizes that elements of its own history may have influenced the way events have been developed.
A worrying posture
Roberts has been praised by criticism for his role in the film. Robbie Collin of The Telegraph described her as “her best performance in years”, while The Times predicted even a victory in the Oscar.
However, many critics showed repairs. “Nikki Baughan” by Screen Daily said the movie “puts itself very much ahead of any real and valuable discussion of these deeply complex issues.”
“Although you can want to cause a debate,” he continued, “the position he takes in his message is worrying.”
The director and screenwriter of the film “seem convinced that all this is very provocative, very new with his difficult questions and subjective truths,” said “David Rooney” of Hollywood Reporter. “But, frankly, it is something five years ago, which makes it more tedious.”
Ryan Lattanzino de Indiewire said that although Guadagnino is “one of the best active filmmakers”, the movie “Finally is not going against the countercurrent enough,” and added: “He strives for moral ambiguity, but ends up being surprisingly rigid in moral.”
Garfield, better known for Spider-Man and “the social network”, had already been nominated for an Oscar for “to the last man” and Tick Boom!.
The British actor said there was something intrinsically human in the imperfect nature of the characters, which attracted him to the project.
“I feel that, when our motivations are invisible, even for ourselves, we are all unreliable narrators,” he said.
“Especially in a culture where the perception of survival is essential. And as we all know, human beings will behave in an animal way when we see each other in a position in which we believe it is life or death.
“And I found that really interesting about this world, these characters, and how their impulses, desires and needs are invisible to themselves in certain ways, and they are convincing that they are the heroes of this story.”
Guadagnino, who returns after directing Queerwhich was badly received last year, agreed: “I think it is always interesting to see what we carry without knowing that we carry it within ourselves,” he said.
“And seeing that happens in the confrontation between characters, is fascinating. I think even people’s lies tell the truth,” he added.
Roberts, who had already starred Pretty Woman and NETTING HILL And he won an Oscar in 2001 for the film Erin Brockovich, said he enjoyed the opportunity to play women with problems.
“The problems are where the juicy part is, right?” He said smiling.
“It’s like a domino with conflicts, once a file falls, wherever you turn there is a new piece of conflict and challenge, and that is what makes it worth getting up and going to work in the morning.”
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