(Reprinted) Time Network Toronto News The film "exception" directed by David Leveaux , the new "Cinderella" Lily James , Jay Courtney and Christopher Plummer starring. Based on Alan Judd's novel "Caesar's Last Kiss," the film is set in 1940, when Brandt (Jay Courtney), a Nazi German Wehrmacht commander, is sent to defend the Germans who are deported to the Netherlands. King William II (Christopher Plummer), the former emperor now lives in a remote country cottage with his wife ( Jenny McTeer ) and servants. At the Toronto Film Festival, Time.com reporters interviewed the film's starring Jay Courtney, Lily James, Christopher Plummer and director David Leveaux. The three leading actors talked about their own feelings and journeys in acting, as well as their understanding and shaping of movie roles. Director David Leveaux talked about his understanding of the script and why he chose these actors to star in the film.
Lily James: Big responsibility to play Mieke in new film
'Cinderella' star Lily James admits it's a terrifying challenge to play a spy living during World War II in her new film ' The Exception'. Lily James gained more attention with her roles as Lady Rose in the worldwide hit British drama "Downton Abbey " and Natasha in the BBC's acclaimed "War and Peace" . She told Time.com that playing the role of Mieke in the new film makes her feel like she has a huge responsibility on her shoulders. Mieke is a Jewish female spy who gathers intelligence for the British government in Nazi-occupied Netherlands during World War II. "I watched a lot of material and documentaries about the war and women who risked their lives to fight the Nazis. Playing a Jewish woman whose family was killed by the Nazis was a huge responsibility for me, so I wanted to understand and learn more about the background. ' she said in an interview during the Toronto Film Festival. Q: This movie looks very different from Cinderella and Downton Abbey, which you have acted in before. What aspects of the work attracted you? Lily James: This is one of the scripts my agent sent me, and it resonated a lot with me. It looks interestingly different from my previous characters, and it feels like a different work. I was fascinated by the character and the story itself, so I decided to do it and I met with the director. Q: Does this character frighten you? You have to have a Dutch accent, and there's some nudity in there... Lily James: Yeah , it's scary, but that's what I like. I like challenges. I like that accent. My best friend when I lived in London was Dutch and she helped me a lot. I would video chat with her and she would send me a recording of the Dutch pronunciation. The difference between each tone is very subtle. Q: There are some very vivid sex scenes in the film. Are you afraid of this? Lily James: No.There was a sex scene on page seven of the script, and I remember reading that and feeling like the movie needed it, and that was enough to put my energy into it. Both protagonists have been hurt a lot, and she has a line that says "Even if I'm naked, you won't see me..." I can feel the emotions of the characters strongly. The two tormented people meet each other, and gradually develop into lovers and complete each other's redemption. Mieke had given up - she had lost everything, and when she met Brandt she found a reason to live on. Q: You acted in a Nazi atmosphere, with the iconic Nazi swastika and uniforms everywhere, did that make you scared? Lily James: Yeah , I was freaked out a few times. There are several scenes shot outside the house, where Himmler (Eddie Marsan) comes to inspect, and the set is filled with soldiers in Nazi uniforms. I remember taking a black-and-white photo with my phone, all of which may have actually happened. This scene really scared me. Jai Courtney: Acting with Lily James feels great
Q: Did you feel uneasy about digging deep into the dark days of the Nazi occupation of Europe? Jay Courtney: Yeah, the whole thing was unsettling, the power of that uniform wasn't diluted by the wash over time. But this is an important part of history, and behind it, there is also a charming and malicious side of history. I really enjoyed the process of researching the material for the film. I can't let go of this history. It's not like preparing other films like, "Okay, let's look at some background information about this place during this period..." It's not like that. I was so fascinated by this background that I kept checking documentaries and sources about this period and the German Third Reich. This knowledge is relatively lacking in me, but I have a lot of interest in it during the learning process. Q: What was it like working with Lily James? Jay Courtney: I've never met Lily before, but I've seen a lot of her work and I know she's a very talented actress. We have a rehearsal stage before the actual shooting, which gives us the opportunity to get to know each other and break down the scene. The director, Lily, Christopher and I have all been involved in theatrical performances -- so we chose to go into this production through something like a theatrical preview, which was great.
Christopher Plummer: I had to give Caesar a different dimension of character
Q: This is a passionate work for you. What attracted you to it? Christopher Plummer: : This is a good story. I like this house full of conspiracy, I like the concept - Churchill trying to win over Caesar, Hitler trying to bring Caesar back to Germany, and the Jewish girl Mieke working by his side as a spy. It's a good story, and Caesar has the perfect trait that appeals to me. Q: You have to give Caesar humanity, how do you achieve that? Christopher Plummer: I have to give Caesar a different dimension of character, but the problem is that no one really understands who he is. We know all his outward appearances, all the uniforms he's been wearing, but we really don't know if he's mature, if he's gentle, so it's up to us to make him a gentle person, or not There's something tragic about him, so that people can generate a certain emotion in him. Q: Do you enjoy working with young actors? Christopher Plummer: Jenny McTeer is a great actress and you have no idea how much I admire her. I really think she's the best actor to question right now. We often play freely, which brings a lot of fun to the rivalry between us. I also really like Lily, she is very special. She's been noticed for her lovely charm and personality, but more because she's very talented. And she's not ugly either! Jay played a very difficult character very well, and he had to live with how the audience felt about the Nazis. His character has to lead the film, and at that point I think he does a really good job.
Director David Leveaux: The last thing we want to do is fall into the trap of self-redemption
Q: Does portraying Caesar as more human put you at risk of rewriting history? David Leveaux: We don't want to gloss over the man's uncomfortable personality, like his instinctive anti-Semitism. The last thing we want to do is fall into the trap of self-redemption. Like Christopher said, if we did that, the movie wouldn't be likeable. I'm very interested in people with flaws. Q: It was crucial for the film to have a core cast that matched Christopher Plummer and balanced his weight. How did you find their forehead? David Leveaux: I knew we needed a first-class actor with charisma and masculinity to play Brandt, someone who we could believe had fought on the front lines and who had a clear sense of his role. All I knew was we had to find the actor who looked like a soldier. So Jay is a perfect choice. I've seen what he's done before and think he's a real actor who lights up every character. Then we met and tried some scenes, and I knew he was the guy I was looking for. Finding Mieke's character was really a big test for me, because she is the soul of the film. She infuses female power, creates chaos, and takes all the twists in this tale of men in uniform. I've seen some of Lily's work, she just finished "Cinderella," and when we met I thought, "You can get emotional quickly, you can explain a thing in the least amount of words." And Mieke is in most of the Silent for a while. The other thing is that Mieke has to be fearless, Lily and Jay are definitely in that category, which is great for our crew.
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