Sir David Hare on The Reader, Pt. II
April 2, 2009

Here’s the second half of my interview with Sir David Hare, screenwriter of the Stephen Daldry-directed film The Reader (Genius/Weinstein, Street: April 14; BD street: April 28). We left off with Sir David explaining the difficulties in writing a screenplay about those who commit war crimes and feel they are justified in their actions.

Video Business: I would imagine that knowing you were writing The Reader primarily for an English-speaking audience would make it difficult.

David Hare: I would say that countries which have been occupied or which have suffered dictatorships, it would be much easier for them to understand the film. More so than countries which are innocent to dictatorships or occupations. People know that ordinary people get caught up in dictatorships. They’re used to the idea that in order to save your own skin, you find yourself doing terrible things. People in 1930s Germany were faced with a very severe choice—if you stuck your neck out against the regime, you would lose your life. And there were those who had the courage to do that—the willingness to lose their own lives.

VB: As to the shooting of the film, were you on-set and an active part of the day-to-day production?
DH: As far as I could bear it, yes. Stephen is a very collaborative director. If he had his way, he would have me there everyday, all day. But the problem for a screenwriter is that you’re desperately needed for two hours and you’re not needed at all for the other twelve.
VB: You’re a director also, though I don’t think you’ve directed a feature in a while.
DH: It’s been an awfully long time since I’ve directed a movie and it’s true that I know a lot about filmmaking. Again, because Stephen is such a generous fellow, he likes having me around. He likes having everybody around. One of the reasons he’s so brilliant is because he’s not remotely touchy or defensive. He will listen to absolutely everybody’s point of view on the set. He’s the least touchy director I’ve ever worked with. He doesn’t have to pretend that he’s the auteur and that all the ideas come from him. It’s such a relief. But he is still completely in charge and it is his movie.
VB: I saw you onstage nearly a decade ago in Via Dolorosa and very much enjoyed watching you act! Are there any more acting roles in the future for you!

Posted by Laurence Lerman on April 2, 2009 | Comments (0)