The 30th anniversary of the release of "The Silence of the Lambs" The main actors gathered to talk about the film life

Reference News Network reported on March 23 that the website of Vanity Fair magazine published a report by reporter Antananarivo Diu on February 23, entitled "Dr. Lecter, I am Clarice Starling", the reporter interviewed the two main actors of the movie "The Silence of the Lambs", on the 30th anniversary of the film's release, Judy Foster and Anthony Hopkins told the story behind the scenes of the film and the understanding of art and life. The full text is excerpted below:

When Judy Foster and Anthony Hopkins joined me on a video call to talk about the 30th anniversary of the release of The Silence of the Lambs, they hadn't seen each other for more than a decade, so in this conversation about murder and injury, there was more laughter of excitement than expected.

The film by late director Jonathan Demme is based on Thomas Harris' best-selling novel and tells the story of FBI trainee agent Clarice Stalin. Starling is ordered to the dungeon to study the psychology of the well-mannered serial killer Hannibal Lecter and ask him how he can catch another heinous murderer, "Buffalo Bill". "The Silence of the Lambs" swept five of the most weighty Oscar awards. This achievement was not equalized in the following decades. The film spawned sequels, imitations of plagiarism, and tv dramas Hannibal and Clarice, not to mention the often repeated lines about wine and the dangers of improper emolliency.

Foster and Hopkins have created many great works in their respective careers, including the recent role of Foster as a stubborn lawyer in Mauritanians fighting for the freedom of a Muslim prisoner held at Guantanamo Bay, who played his father with Alzheimer's disease in Father.

About the original decision

When was the last time you watched The Silence of the Lambs?

Hopkins: I watched it about five years ago.

Foster: I watched it two years ago. The kids hadn't seen The Silence of the Lambs, so I took them to the movie. My idea was that it was an old movie that wouldn't make them feel intimidating.

Still scary?

Foster: I think so. Surprisingly, there really aren't any bloody shots in the film. Only one scene is bloody. This movie is so scary because the sense of fear it creates seeps into people's consciousness. It creates more fear than anything else.

Tony (Anthony's nickname – this web note), how do you feel about watching this movie again?

Hopkins: I'm excited about the success of this movie. I'm proud to be a part of it. I was at the theatre in London, and my agent called me and he said, "I'm going to send a play to the theatre called The Silence of the Lambs." I said, "Is it a children's film?" "I don't know anything." "No," he said, "it's with Judy Foster. I said, "Okay. ”

I think Judy had just won an Oscar for "The Accused." So I went to the locker room and started reading the script, about 10 pages. When [FBI agent] Crawford said, "You don't want Hannibal Lecter to get into your head," I thought, that's it. I called my agent and said, "Does this count as an offer?" It's the best role I've ever had..." He said, "Well, not too much. I said, "I don't care." ”

Foster: We met once on a script. My meeting with Tony was less formal. We sat opposite each other, he started first, and we started on the script. I was terrified. (Laughs.) After that, I was so scared that I didn't dare talk to him.

Understanding about the role

Tony, Hannibal Lecter became the poster child for serial killers on screen. How did you want to shape the character?

Hopkins: I met Jonathan in London. Curious, I asked him, "Why are you asking me to play?" I'm not an American actor. He said, "Well, I saw you play Dr. Treves in The Elephant Man." "I'm a little puzzled. I said, "Why does that resonate with you?" He said, "Well, because Treves is a good guy." I said, "Okay. So, what about Hannibal Lecter? He said: "I think he's a good guy, a very smart guy. He was trapped by a crazy brain. "I think he's right because Lecter is really a gentleman. He's not buffalo Bill. When he kills, he is swift and deadly.

In fact, when he saw Clarice and spoke deeply to her, he knew he would never hurt her. If it was a man, he would. He would compete with any man. But he promised: "I will never set my sights on you." "Because he respected her very much and liked her in a way. Although he mocked her for carrying a fancy bag and wearing cheap shoes, he understood women. I think there are a lot of women in his body. We all have two sides. We all have this trait, femininity in men and masculinity in women.

I remember the day Jonathan asked me (what I wanted to make my debut in my cell). It was January 9, 1990. He said: "The camera would have filmed Judy walking down the aisle. How do you want to be seen? Do you want to stand, or do you want to read, sleep, or do you do something else? I said, "I want to stand." "Where?" I said, "In the middle of the cell." "Why?" I said, "I can smell her." He said, "You're crazy. ”

Foster: Lecter needs and wants to be seen as a human being. If you don't see him as a human being, you'll be eaten. So I think they understand each other's humanity. When Lecter understood Clarice's pain, that is, when he heard her tell a story about the Lamb, it wasn't because it was a bloody story. It's a story of pain.

About the director

Let's talk about Jonathan Dem. I'm sorry we lost him as a director. I've heard that his way of doing things on set is highly democratic and inclusive, with a lot of attention to detail, even what a napkin buckle should look like.

Foster: I think people forget how silly and cute Jonathan is. This is so important for The Silence of the Lambs because it could have been a very tough shoot.

Hopkins: The last time I saw him was at the Toronto Film Festival. I didn't know he was sick, but he didn't look good. None of us know that he was actually on the verge of death. He died shortly thereafter. But he was the best man. A true democrat. We kept laughing.

Foster: I think people who know him were surprised to hear that he was going to make The Silence of the Lambs because they might have thought of it as a horror movie. But I think the clever thing about Jonathan making this film is that people believe he's going to find the heart of the film.

About aging or justice

I want to talk about your new movie. Tony, I'll start with Father. I have a family member with dementia, so I can empathize. But I really didn't expect a movie to unfold from the actual point of view of the amnesiac. As a society, we have so much fear of aging that this fear hinders meaningful discussion about aging.

HOPKINS: I read Christopher Hampton's script, and like The Silence of the Lambs, it was perfect. I thought, wow, yeah, that's it. I'm excited about this film. It's not intimidating at all, because I'm 83 years old now. I don't have to perform because I'm an old man now.

Judy, your new film, Mauritanians, is another wonderful one, because it is based on real events that show the serious injustices that exist in Guantanamo Bay and elsewhere. Are you already familiar with the story of Muhammadu Ould Slavhi, or with the lawyer you played, Nancy Hollander?

Foster: I don't know anything about that. I consider myself the kind of person who is passionate about journalism and is certainly interested in social justice. I was so moved by his story, which is extraordinary. He was kidnapped at home for no reason — taken away and held for 14 years, with no one telling him why.

He was tortured and forced to confess whatever they wanted him to admit. But the extraordinary thing about this story is not at all. I love Nancy Holland. She was an amazing lady. I play her in the film a little more mean than she is in reality, but everything I do or choose is actually to tell Muhammadu's story, because it's a story that needs to be told.

About reading, film and the times

I'm curious what movies and TV you two are watching right now. Or are you just reading?

Foster: I'm reading. One of my most recent movies is Two Popes. Oh my God, Tony, that's great. This is probably one of my favorite performances of yours. That movie touched me very much, touched me deeply. In the last year or two, there has been "Chernobyl", and I love "Chernobyl".

Isn't that ironic? We've all seen Chernobyl, "What's wrong with them there?" "Now, we are showing the same self-deception in the face of COVID-19. Tony, what about you? Do you also read books?

Hopkins: I read some of the books by Charles Dickens, who was a great writer. I read books and I watch some documentaries. The time I was able to concentrate was as short as a hummingbird. I play the piano and draw. I think computers and tablets are really bad because you get addicted and then you get distracted. You think, well, I'd better look it up on Wikipedia. Your life is now filled with a lot of information, which is an addiction. I mean, why do we need this knowledge?

There have been a lot of positive shifts in Hollywood. What is the greatest hope for you in today's industry?

Foster: It's great to see a diversity landscape that's more like the real world. There are stories that we didn't know before, and now I find them so unusual. Now as an actor, my real goal is to work for that. I just want to make that happen. I can perform, so please tell me where you want me to be.

Of course, for those of us who grew up watching movies and experiencing cinema, it's painful to stay away from the theatrical experience. But you know what? As an artist, I can perform anywhere. If it's on An Apple phone — we have to get involved and keep up with the times. This is a new era, people pay different attention, their habits are also different. So I can accept it and keep up with the times.

Hopkins: Yeah, so do I. I was lucky enough to be in this business and did what was given to me. I am interested in accepting anything.

In the film The Silence of the Lambs, trainee Agent Starling is ordered to the dungeon to study the elegant serial killer Hannibal Lecter. (File photo)

Source: Reference News Network