“I Want to Make Films That Will Help People To Connect With Me Emotionally” Australian Actor Simon Baker at KIFF 2018
The Kolkata Mail November 16, 2018 Kolkata Mail article
Australian actor-director Simon Baker interacted with the media after the screening of his film Breath at the 24th Kolkata International Film Festival.
The film Breath is set in the mid-70s coastal Australia. The story narrates the journey of two young boys who have an unlikely friendship with a mysterious adventurer. He pushes them to take risks which have a profound interest on their lives.
The cast of the film consists of Simon Baker, Elizabeth Debicki, Rachael Blake and Richard Roxburgh. The story is by Tom Winton.
This was Simon Baker’s first trip to India and he has actually loved Kolkata and the food here. He also mentioned that his excitement on being present at the inaugural ceremony of the film festival has been a great experience for him.
“Since I have grown up in Australia, stories revolving around the coast come naturally to me. There are many stories which I have carried in my heart and I want to tell them to the people. Some people want to make films because they want to make money and some because they want to connect with the people. I want to connect emotionally with the people and hence my tryst with making films” said Simon Baker.
According to the actor, acting in Hollywood movies was a good experience for him as an actor. But when it came to telling stories, he would like it to make it in Australia as he would then connect with it more.
Simon Baker’s favourite kind of films is those which surprise him and take him somewhere. The films which make him lost in the story on screen are the ones which he loves the most.
As a filmmaker, he wants to make such films which will help people articulate and understand those feelings which they have but did not understand. As a young boy, many films made him understand different feelings which he thought he did not have.
Before leaving to catch his flight, the actor was questioned whether he would be acting more or directing more in the future. He smiled and asked the audience to wait and watch about his next move.
All the best Simon!!
Priyanka Dutta
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