The American actor, who plays Sheriff Ethan Sawyer, is one of the main figures in the film “Those who wish me dead” (“Those who wish my death”), directed by Taylor Sheridan.
Those Who Wish My Death, a film directed by Taylor Sheridan, is the story of Hannah (Angelina Jolie), a paratrooper firefighter, affected by the loss of three lives that she could not save during a fire. She takes comfort in beating herself up or undergoing solitary confinement in her watchtower in the woods.
The film also addresses the story of Ethan Sawyer, a bailiff played by American actor Jon Bernthal, who has defined this audiovisual proposal as the most important film that Sheridan has made.
We spoke with Bernthal about his participation in Those Who Wish My Death .
How could you describe your character, Ethan Sawyer in the movie “Those tho wish me dead”?
Ethan, the character I play, is the bailiff, who lives with his wife Alisson (Medina Senghore) and they have a life that is quite peaceful and happy with a daughter on the way. He is surrounded by the people he loves: his wife, his unborn daughter, his nephew … and all are in great danger when he is left unable to defend family harmony. My character is trapped and all he can do is take one step at a time in the forest looking for a way to survive.
What can you tell us about the plot of the film?
For me, the movie is about the idea of moving forward and not stopping. Sometimes when you think there is an enemy in front of you, the enemy is actually something completely different and you never know when your time will be, you just have to keep moving forward. Violence, in general, has secondary effects and ends up generating trauma. This movie is also about putting yourself in a situation where you have to do everything in your power to be alive and something stressful or traumatic can give you a new life purpose.
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How was the experience of working with a director like Taylor Sheridan?
Taylor Sheridan is a great storyteller. He understands the West, Westerns, perfectly; understand nature and what it means to survive. He deals with the story in a way where he makes the micro and macro so beautiful that he manages to tell a story about a little boy, a woman, while still targeting these killers who chase. But it also tells the story of the forest fire, death, and enemies on very different levels.
How do actor Jon Bernthal and director Taylor Sheridan know each other?
I met Taylor when he was doing Sicario and I was a huge fan of him as an actor. I continued to admire him after making such incredible films as Hell or high water and Wind river, in which I also participated with an interpretation. I have seen him through the years and there is a whole group of people who follow in his footsteps. I have a lot to say about an artist who started out as an actor. He’s been through it, he fought. He has an impeccable work ethic, he has real respect for his team. Everyone here believes in him and will follow him in his initiatives. I know that I would. I love the idea of actors evolving towards the direction of their own stories. What’s really great about Taylor (Sheridan) is that it’s not about him being successful, but about the optimal audiovisual result.
Follow the news of El Espectador on Google NewsHow could you describe the acting atmosphere in a movie like “Those Who Wish My Death”?
This is the most important movie Taylor Sheridan has ever made. In the past, it was more about action and one thing leading to another. He is always rooted in authenticity and reality. He lives in the environment of the film and makes sure that we, as actors, are surrounded by people who really live that way and can provide us with elements to establish if we are interpreting the characters correctly and in a credible way.
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One of the protagonists is Angelina Jolie, what is it like to work with her?
I can say that Angelina Jolie takes her job very seriously. She is an absolutely credible actress in her acting and demeanor. In the film Those Who Wish My Death she plays very well a paratrooper firefighter who can live in the woods that way (alone in a control tower), but she also has the emotional depth and richness to make the story compelling. She is sassy and can turn on the camera no matter if what she does is liked by others or not. She is also not afraid to show some ugliness, even if she is a diva, and I applaud her deeply for that.
How is female empowerment seen in this movie?
The director made a decision here and I think it’s amazing. He makes the women in this movie the heroines and the ones kicking butt and making the story happen. There is something very real and it is the people who live in those communities (isolated in the forests), the day to day that is shown in the film is part of their jobs, part of their life. It does not matter if you are a man, a woman or a child. It matters what your experience is, what you have trained for and what you resolve. These are two incredibly strong women (Hannah and Alison) played by two incredibly talented actresses (Angelina Jolie and Medina Senghore). I think it’s great and I’m a great motivator for female empowerment in film and in all human spheres.