Franco: Right, however that proper there may be motivated. Dismissing her claims is a means of overlaying up her abuse. As the grandmother says, “She’s always been difficult. She’s always been crazy. She was always a complicated child.” Then it’s straightforward to hide everybody else’s unhealthy conduct. It’s such a typical factor in life. Dementia is widespread. Abuse, even incest, is extraordinarily widespread. And simply as generally not handled.
Filmmaker: It’s their means of crushing her, retaining her in her place, denying her actuality. It’s additionally a means her character and Saul are related. It’s one thing they each have in widespread — being constantly doubted by their family members.
Franco: In the case of Saul although it’s trickier. I believe Isaac, Saul’s brother [played by Josh Charles], means properly. But that’s what I attempt to do. I attempt to write issues the place each character within the room is true. Where there’s no clear unhealthy man. In this case, Sylvia’s mom is on her personal stage, she’s fallacious, however I wouldn’t say she’s evil. Isaac is doing his greatest for his brother. Who is that this girl? A stranger, and what does she need with Saul? And what are the probabilities for this couple? Live day-to-day, or plan years forward?
Filmmaker: In a means, Saul picks her, but it surely’s unclear what sparks his preliminary curiosity. It’s virtually inexplicable. Does she remind him of his spouse, or is it one thing else?
Franco: Mainly I believe he spots her throughout the room on the reunion as a result of he sees she’s alone, they usually join as a result of they’re each having a tough time connecting. For Saul, he sees that straight away and that’s why he’s drawn to her and makes his method, why he follows her.
Filmmaker: There’s a very highly effective second the place you illuminate their similarities, that recurs twice within the movie. In each, they’re sitting, watching Julian Schnabel’s Basquiat. The first time, Saul confesses he can’t perceive the narrative, or motion pictures normally, due to his situation. Sylvia is shocked and tells him if she had recognized, she wouldn’t have put it on. They chortle it off. Then the second time, they’re watching it once more — clearly she’s put it again on and he’s agreed, however now, Sylvia is crying on the scene onscreen. When she turns it off, it’s clear Saul too is crying, but it surely’s unclear whether or not it’s as a result of he’s annoyed that he can’t comprehend the on-screen proceedings, or if he’s empathically related to Sylvia, and senses her emotion and is then drawn to really feel the identical factor in a kind of compulsive sync together with her. It’s a extremely poignant second the place you present how wounded they each are and the way a lot they each have wishes they will’t comprehend, how alike they’re in flip.
