FALLING (2020): Viggo Mortensen Talks Directing & Acting in the Same Film at the San Sebastian Film Festival

Viggo Mortensen talks Falling at the San Sebastian Film Festival

Viggo Mortensen is at the San Sebastian Film Festival this week with his directorial debut Falling winning one of this year’s prestigious Donostia awards.

On Thursday afternoon, the actor and director held a press conference before the awards ceremony of the evening. Acknowledging his nervousness, the actor graciously thanked the festival for the double honor of the career achievement award and for having his film included in the lineup. When asked about the impact of his acting work on his own directing, he was surprised when a reporter pointed out that a horse in Falling shares a name used in Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings books, admitting he had no prior idea.

““It wasn’t my idea to act initially, but it was necessary to finance the film,” he explained, questioned on the difficulties of duplicating work as actor and director on the same film. “But, we prepared so well early on that I knew what we were going do with the director of photography and the art director every day.”

Quick to change the subject away from his own on-screen contribution, he praised his critically acclaimed co-star, Lance Henriksen. “It’s a great performance from him, and I believe he deserves all the acclaim he gets, and I hope he receives more.”

As to the future, Mortensen has clarified where his bread is buttered, while also expressing a willingness to lead again. “I want to keep directing, and I have to keep acting to make a living,” he explained. “‘Falling’ isn’t going to make me a lot of money. It’s hard financing an independent film. But if people with money and influence like this one, maybe the next one will be easier. But I’m not counting on it.”

The day ended with Mortensen discussing the parallels between the way the family in Falling treats their abusive father and the trends he sees in the global socio-political discourse.

“Answering toxic rhetoric with the same verbal violence might make you feel good in the moment, maybe you will even get approval from others or likes on social media, but then you’re using fire to fight fire. That doesn’t take us anywhere within a family or in society. A difficult thing the story deals with is the need to put in a maximum effort to try and communicate,” he said. “It’s not why I wanted to tell this story, but the family’s falling apart can be a microcosm of what is happening in the States or here in Spain. Politically and socially it’s even worse now during the pandemic. Politicians have flourished who play the double role of firefighters and arsonists.”

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