A story of love, friendship and compassion with an ancient warrior and a young African American, who has just discovered she is immortal, as protagonists. Because the world needs women and courage knows no gender differences. 20 years after “Love & Basketball” and after “The Secret Life of Bees” and “Beyond the Lights - Find Your Voice”, Gina Prince-Bythewood comes to the action movie with very clear ideas on how to reinvent the rules. We talked to her over the phone while she was in Los Angeles during the lockdown.
A superhero movie that doesn’t look like a superhero movie. Is that why you decided to make it?
Absolutely yes, when I read the script I realized that despite the fantastic genre there was a very realistic background. These characters are real and it’s easy for the audience to relate to them despite being immortal. They fight for goals and reasons that people understand. The more realistic the film, the more viewers can reflect themselves in the protagonists.
In fact, the most fascinating aspect of the characters is their vulnerability: they are immortal, but up to a certain point, which is a paradox. They too have to deal with the sense of the end.
There is a possibility that they may die, that their immortality is interrupted, that they still suffer from their wounds, and this brings them closer to us. The public still feels sorry for them when they see them in danger.
Immortals suffer, and not just physically.
Many think that being able to live forever would be extraordinary, but no one asks what this really means. Immortality has consequences: it can be a gift, but it can also be a curse.
Ah thank you for this I always love reading all the interviews no matter it’s new or old article and it’s incredible that they have quite a lot of interviews and podcasts we can listen to.
I will highlight what I like from this interview..
Don’t play with my heart like this Gina saying it’s a trilogy but keep the news to yourselves and not to us, say it explicitly and proudly please that we indeed will get the second and even third movies
“Nicky is the heart of the group, He is the most sensitive character of all of them.” - Gina the soft Nicky OG.
Also I need to see so badly that scene you did with Marwan Kenzari oh Luca Marinelli.
Luca being a shy bean.
“And Charlize is an athlete of the body and the heart” - Luca with his words choice.
“I don’t feel like playing games, mixing reality and fiction on a terribly real subject like this. I think that in reality, outside of any cinematic fiction, it’s fundamental to fight for equality, within society, but also within ourselves.”
Also I want to tattooed it on my forehead so people can read it haha many need to hear this, Mister Marinelli is the real one.
