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Before Dali became one of the most famous artists of all time, and a legend we frequently dismiss as a fool and a buffoon, there was a young man desperate to make something of himself, an extraordinary talent and a friendship that would define his art and those around him.
Little Ashes tells the extraordinary story of the relationship between Salvador Dali, Federico Garcia Lorca, and Luis Bunuel - a moving story of friendship, love and betrayal, and a tale of the complexities of young love and sexual identity.
Director: Paul Morrison
Director: Paul Morrison
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INTERVIEW WITH JAVIER BELTRAN
ΑπάντησηΔιαγραφήCan you tell us about your character you play and the role he has in the movie?
I play Federico García Lorca, one of the most important Spanish poets. He was a playwright and a musician too. Icon of the Generation of 27. The period of my character in the movie covers from the age 25 to 1936 when they killed him when he was 38. The movie is about the friendship and the love Lorca and Dalí lived. This is the central theme of the movie, the relation between both artists; how they meet each other, what is going on between them, and the reason of their break. But in this story, we have to bear in mind the significance of their close friends during this period like Luís Buñuel, Magdalena, Pepín Bello, and others.
When and where was the movie shot? And can you tell us what what scenes and locations?
The shooting of Little Ashes started exactly a year ago. They were a very intense, hard working days, during the day and the night. We shot near Barcelona where we shot the scenes in the residence hall of Madrid, in the Barcelona city in places like Poble Espanyol, Born, casa Burés… In Cadaqués, near Sitges, in Granada and surely in some other places I actually don’t remember. I have to comment the extraordinary work the Atrezzo team made with the settings in these locations.
Which period does the movie cover and which years? The movie is centered in the period where Lorca, Dalí and Buñuel were in la Residencia de Estudiantes in Madrid but as we know the movie also deals with Lorca’s death, and Gala appears in the movie too. So the film isn’t only centered in their time studying in Madrid?
As I said to you, the period is centered from 1925 to 1936. I can confirm you the poet’s death appears in the movie. We could not avoid telling this episode. It wouldn’t have any sense if we didn’t. Personally, I’ll say to you that for me, it was the most intense scene of the shooting. One of the most emotional scenes and I’d say more impressive. And yes, Gala appears too, undoubtedly, in one of the most important scene of the movie but as you say, the movie is basically centered in the period they were students.
What is your impression after you’ve worked on this movie? Have you seen the definitive editition? What is your feeling about it? How do you think the audience will react? Will the people like this movie? Do you think it can be a firm candidate to win some awards in some film festivals?
The impressions after I worked on this movie only can be really good. For me, to work with actors and actresses like Matthew, Robert, Marina, Bruno and others it has been a unique experience. And I’m very grateful for the chance to play Lorca. He’s an unique and exceptional character.
The movie is already dubbed in spanish and in catalan so yeah I have seen the definitive editition but they still have to make some changes. If you don’t mind, I prefer not to comment on my feelings about it, but obviously are good feelings. I can’t guess if the audience will like it or not, I can’t guess about the audience reactions. Of course I hope the audience likes the movie and the people enjoy it. At least I hope they give it a chance. About if Little Ashes is a good candidate to win some award… I don’t think about it, it’s something that I don't see so far.... but I hope so.
What about the accents of the characters? This is a very commented question. Can you confirm to us if the movie was shot entirely in English? We suppose the questions are about if you spoke in English but with a spanish accent. I know the question is a bit weird because Lorca had an accent from Granada, Buñuel from Aragón and Dalí had a catalan accent when he talked in spanish. If the movie was shot in English, did they take the accents of the characters into account?
The movie is shot in English. But I have to say in some scenes, just a few scenes, they were shot in Spanish, the poems for example.
About the accents of the characters, you’re right, each character because of their origin, had different accents talking in Spanish. But since we shot the movie in English we dispensed with the accents. But on the other hand, in my case, when I dubbed it, I didn't create any andalusian accent either but for the simple fact of Lorca dispensed with his accent when he wanted. So I decided not to create any andalusian accent because, for me, it would have been very forced and, I don’t know if that would have been a wise decision.
Over and above the subject matter of the movie awakes. It’s said a lot about two scenes. Partly because of the rating of the movie “R” because of these scenes. One of them is the scene that shows Lorca making love with Margarita in front of Dalí. And the other one is the kiss between Lorca and Dalí. Trust me, this info caused expectancy when it came out. What can you tell us about these scenes? How do you consider them before and at the moment of shooting them, or rather, how did you - you, Robert Pattinson and Marina Gatell - consider them. How did you prepare for them? Were they difficult to shoot?
Do you really want me to tell you about these scenes? I won’t do it then… hahaha… if these scenes have really caused so expectation I prefer keep on maintaining this excitement until you see the film.
I can just tell you that these scenes were shot with a lot of tact. And I personally think Paul, the director, made an excepcional work. It was a pleasure to shoot all the scenes with Robert and Marina not just these ones. We all see very clear what we had to do. I don’t deny you these scenes were complicated, and not because they were sex scenes but they were a very intense and emotional moments for the characters and, as an actor, you’ve to communicate these feelings, beyond if you’re shooting a sex scene or not.
Can you tell us about how the work environment was in and around of the set? Did you enjoy a good work environment? Was it a easy shoot? Did you (the shooting team) share some other moments on the set?
I'm going to be brief. It was a very intense shoot. Easy and difficult but in short, a pleasure. An unforgettable experience. I’ll keep the moments out of the shooting for me but yes, there were a lot of moments that by luck or misfortune, they weren’t shot.
An obliged question if I don’t ask you people won’t forgive me. How was it to work with Robert Pattinson? How is he working on and off the set?
Robert is an exceptional guy, on and off the set. Generous and very nice. A professional from head to toe. I can’t tell you anything else. It was a pleasure to work with him and meet him in person. I’ve just have good words for him, the same with the rest of the cast and the shooting team.
I hope I’ve answered all your questions. This is not a bother, on the contrary I’m very grateful for you interest and your work. I hope Little Ashes matchs up to your enthusiasm, I hope you like it and you enjoy it. Thank you very much.