Given the opportunity to talk with a Hollywood star, an established actor who directs, produces, is a screenwriter, poet, musician, photographer and painter, one can be overwhelmed with a thousand possible questions or try to enjoy the moment. Viggo Mortensen facilitates that second option since he bursts onto the 26th floor of the Riu hotel (Madrid) for the photo session and interview.
His shy pose disappears instantly, with that Buenos Aires talk from his childhood in Buenos Aires. She chooses a table safe from the air conditioning, helps carry jackets, water, notebook and recorder, which she brings closer, aware of the moderate volume of her voice. Everything under control, like in her cinema. There are almost forty years of a career far from the mere role of handsome, in which he has contributed his charisma to characters such as the legendary Aragorn, Alatriste or Freud and in titles such as A History of Violence, Eastern Promises, Captain Fantastic or Green Book ( the last three, with nominations at the Oscars).
Behind the camera, the New York artist of Danish origin gives free rein to his creative vein and his knowledge of creating equipment. He did it with Falling (2020), an emotional family drama born from the desire to explore his feelings for his parents. Today, in his second film, Hasta el fin del mundo, he explores emotions and memories in western format. He signs everything from the script to the soundtrack and assumes one of the main roles, although he gives the lead role to a woman. In an unprecedented approach to the genre, the story focuses on Vivienne, who is separated by the civil war from the Danish immigrant played by Mortensen.
Your resume is overwhelming, how do you manage to delay time?
Taking away hours of sleep and living without networks, that saves you a little.
And how does the ego control it?
With failure (laughs). No, seriously, cinema is a collective work, that's what I like about it. Here, if you have fumes, they will lower them, because you don't always have the best idea. In this film I knew what I wanted, but I showed the script to several people, we worked together on the photography, the music... Here there is no room to believe you are the owner of everything. There is always something to improve. The essential thing, in addition to preparing the shoot very well, is to remain open to the ideas of others, I have learned this from good directors.
His attractiveness could be a temptation to direct his career there.
I don't know, I'm stubborn and I have ideas, I want to try things and do it as a team.
Is your driving force curiosity and concerns? Is it the secret of your success?
There is no secret. You use the word restlessness and I think it's a bit like that. Since I was a child I have been curious to learn new things. Life is short and I need to mentally record the experiences. I do it in poems, painting... For me, every creative effort has to do with remembering what one felt at some point. When I look at a photo with my young parents, 90 percent of what I see is outside the photo: what it was like that day, what my life was like then, how I understood the world. If I watch a movie I was in, I remember what the shooting was like that day, who I connected with, how a difficult scene ended up being decent. It takes me to the personal.
His concern about death, since he was a child, is present in his films. Hence this desire to experience so many facets?
Yes, although it is a fight doomed to fail. Nobody is going to live forever. And if someone asks me how I want to be remembered, I don't care, because I won't be there. My two films as a director have been for an audience of one person: for me. It sounds selfish, but it's not, I want to do something that I would like to see and I hope others would also like to see. But you must satisfy yourself. At the end of the day, my film, when you see it, is already your version. Even if I see it again it is different. Sometimes, at colloquiums, I stay for a long time because the atmosphere changes depending on the audience and perhaps they ask me something that I had not even thought of. It's a strange alchemy, an exchange that I like. The goal is always to remember what you see. With a story, a photo or a movie, which is another form of conversation.
Seek to capture those moments...
Before, when I was younger, if an idea occurred to me, in bed at night, I would wait for the next day and write it down. Now, if I don't get up and write it down right away, it will completely go away... It's age.
I know, I know.
Ha ha ha. You have to get up and score.
What is success for you?
Success now would be being able to make another movie. If people receive this one well, it is easier to find financing for the next one.
Are you still afraid of failure?
Yes, yes, one always gets nervous. Before this shoot I was, but no more than as an actor, because I know how films are made. My film school has been filming, the luck of working with great filmmakers, scriptwriters, photographers, with very good actors. If you are interested in what others do, improve what you contribute.
A western with a female protagonist, Vicky Krieps. A great choice, by the way. Doesn't she remind you of Meryl Streep?
Exactly! I saw her in The Invisible Thread, in her encounter with Daniel Day Lewis something blossoms and she transmits it, through her skin. She reminded me of Meryl Streep in Sophie's Choice and other of her films. That ability to transmit in silence.
Does your film have a feminist message?
My starting point is never ideological or activist. I'm looking for a good story. I wanted to make a film in the tradition of the classic western. I grew up watching that cinema and most westerns are bad, like 90% of films of any genre; Maybe they start out well, but then either they didn't know how to continue or they are downright bad. My approach was not: I'm going to make a women's film. As I was writing the script, I wondered: what do women do when their partners go off to their manly wars? That is never seen, the film always follows him and when he returns, she has either died or is happy to see him. I wanted to explore that reality, show it to her.
In the film it is said that they “fight differently.” Should women govern, to see if anything improves?
Well yes, because until today it hasn't gone well at all. Yes, they fight differently. Although there are also warlike women. Look at the president of the Community of Madrid, a quite harmful example. I don't want to go there, but she shows that it's not just a gender issue. But yes, I agree that more participation by intelligent and capable women has to be better, so far it has been terrible.
It also addresses abuse of power.
In an indirect way it is an opportunity to reflect on the expense, waste and sadness of any war.
Do you fear a global escalation due to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict?
Yes, yes, and for Ukraine too. It's scary. It is not learned.
Do you trust any politician?
There are few, but there are people sincerely at the service of the people who do not seem to be bought. It is increasingly difficult to find them and, if they exist, to come to power; because many barriers are put up for them.
What is the trait that most defines you?
Curiosity. It keeps you alive, attentive and also extends to reflecting on your mistakes, apologizing and improving the way you do things.
How do you see life at 65?
I try to say no a little more than before, and focus on the things I want to do. Memory and energy are decreasing. Do fewer things and do them better.
Fear of death?
Not afraid, but I think about her a lot. Every day. Every day, when you wake up. I open my eyes and go: poof! And that motivates me to get up and say to myself: “Come on! Let's do something today, because this day won't come back” (she laughs).
What is missing from your life?
I have no complaints on that. One would always like more time to do things and not make mistakes in relationships. You have to correct errors. Life, like the job, is continuous learning. If one accepts it, of course.
How do you reconcile your star status with a long-term relationship? In her case, with another actress, Ariadna Gil.
If you are with someone of your trade, understand what you do. But in any couple, absences can enrich you, you miss each other, you have your own experiences, then you share them...
Do they feel persecuted or do they maintain privacy without problems?
No problem. I don't have that much radar, I don't care. We live a normal life, it's boring for people. After The Lord of the Rings they did control me more, but they got tired of taking photos of me walking with the dog, going to the laundromat, buying donuts, watching a soccer game... Very boring! (laughs) After a while they get tired.
He has a son, Henry (36). What kind of father is he?
You always think you're not doing enough, but I keep communication open, we have a good relationship, luckily. He hasn't made me a grandfather yet, but I think it may happen soon, we'll see.
What would you like to change?
Have more patience, especially with me. Sometimes if I'm tired or stressed I get impatient and want to solve things now. And don't interrupt, listen more, observe more.
What can't you stand from others?
The cruelty, the greed.
He is Danish and American, he grew up in Buenos Aires. Where does he feel from?
I have learned that in life how you are is more important than where you are. I feel at home in many places. My mother was American, I have Danish, Scottish, Canadian blood... a mix. I was born in New York, but I have lived in several places.
Do you have nationalist sentiment? The Argentine is very fond of him, as a fan of San Lorenzo de Almagro.
With San Lorenzo it is an unconditional love. But nationalism... you have to be careful with that. In my film you see... It is the American southwest, in 1861, and 13 years before that was Mexico, the population was a mixture of races and languages. That's why the protagonist comes from Quebec, she has French culture, and my character is Danish; They are foreign. That's what America was like then and even more so today. Like in Spain or France. And only extreme nationalists speak of “Spain for the Spanish, France for the French.” What does that mean? It's unreal. Not even in the 19th century were they the only population. They haven't come now, they were there centuries ago.
What led you to become a member of the Òmnium Cultural entity?
It was created to support and value culture and language and that interests me, Catalan as well as Basque or Galician. I've been criticized for it, you know, but I think culture should be protected. If I shoot in Poland I want to learn some Polish. I find it sad those who limit themselves and try to limit others with a closed vision of the world. It is more interesting to open your mind to other cultures and languages. Flags, nationalisms and borders are exclusive, they bore me. They have caused damage. One of the best things about the 20th century is the European Union. Something so obvious and sensible, an inclusive, egalitarian way of existing as a society.
