Exclusive Interview With Director Simon Curtis, ‘Woman In Gold’, Opens Nationally April 10

Award winning British director Simon Curtis (My Week with Marilyn),  speaks candidly about his labor of love, the true story of holocaust survivor Maria Altmann, and her fight for the return of her family’s portrait of Aunt Adele ‘The Woman In Gold’.  A presentation of The Weinstein Company.

Woman In Gold

Academy Award winning actress Helen Mirren stars with a paramount ensemble cast in the true story, ‘Woman in Gold’.  The film focuses on a famous painting, considered to be the ‘Austrian Mona Lisa’ that was stolen from Maria Altmann’s family by the Nazis. Ryan Reynolds stars as the lawyer who takes on her case, the real-life E. Randol Schoenberg.

I had the honor of speaking directly with the film’s British director Simon Curtis, who shared his insights and the challenges of making this film.

This film is very dear to you. What personal connection did you feel to Maria Altmann’s story?

Simon Curtis: I was raised in a Jewish family that was living in London at the time of the holocaust. The weight of my ancestors,  the situation and tragedy, was always present. People living one day in safety and security, and the next day in fear and betrayal.

Why did you feel it was important to bring the story of ‘The Woman in Gold’ to a global audience?

Simon Curtis: The expansion in America (1500 theaters), is due to the audiences love of the film. We were touched and encouraged by the tremendous response we have received. It has connected with people and seems to be a crowd pleaser. It opens in London today as well.

I read that you were influenced by Ingmar Bergman’s ‘Fanny and Alexander’, is that true?

Simon Curtis: The film is a connection of events starting in the early 1900’s, when the artist Gustav Klimpt was commissioned by Adele Bloch-Bauer’s husband to create a portrait of his wife. That portrait is ‘The Woman in Gold’.   ‘Fanny and Alexander’ reminded me of this time – in the beginning, when things were good, and their lives were filled with joy and family. It was a social and gilded age,  with dancing and singing. It was the end of an era, with no hint of the horror that was to come.  Then it weaves through Vienna in the 2nd World War, where Maria is forced to re-locate and eventually ends up living in California. There is a sense of suppressed memories for what she left behind.

This was quite a production, filming in so many locations. How did you manage that?

Simon Curtis: It was imperative to me to connect the USA into the telling of the story. The burden of traveling and shuffling the cast and crew around was important and necessary. I wanted America to be linked to the event. Many Jewish people escaped,  and started their lives over in America. Their memories came with them. This film is partly about emotional healing and people trying to make things whole. That was what Maria Altmann was doing. It wasn’t just about getting back her family’s property, it was about honoring her history and alleviating some of the anger she had buried inside.

Did you hand-pick the cast?

Simon Curtis: I guess you could say yes, I was very instrumental in selecting the cast. Of course Helen Mirren draws people in. If you say you’re doing a film with Helen Mirren you don’t have much difficulty getting actors to come on board. I had been Helen Mirren’s personal assistant in the 70’s, so we had a connection and a natural dialogue happening between shots. Still, it was a dream come true. Ryan Reynolds plays lawyer E. Randol Schoenberg and he was terrific. Katie Holmes, Max Irons, Charles Dance, Elizabeth McGovern, Daniel Bruhl, everyone in the cast made this a very personal and heart-felt journey.

What do you think is the essence of this film?

Simon Curtis: I want to attract young cinema goers. I want them to be entertained, but also to know how privileged they are. The holocaust happened not so long ago, but time is moving very fast, and people should never forget that one day you can be happy and strong, and the next day totally vulnerable.

WOMAN GOLD

Thank you Simon Curtis!

You can see ‘The Woman in Gold’ in theaters now. Screenplay by Alexi Kaye Campbell, music by Hans Zimmer.

 

 

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