One of the countless consequences of the journalistic bomb that resulted in revealing, in 2017, the sexual abuse to which Harvey Weinstein subjected almost all of his actresses, in addition to causing the outbreak of Me Too, was the one that may go down in history as the first great movement film,
The Assistant
(2019).
A work sustained by the disturbing gaze of director Kitty Green and, also, a masterful performance by Julia Garner (New York, 30 years old), who, with hardly any dialogue, transmitted the tension and emotional burden of a woman trapped in an environment toxic workplace.
The tandem has reunited in
The Royal Hotel
, a feature film that premieres today in Spain and explores the sexist violence suffered by two tourists when they go to work in an Australian pub.
“Although it is evident that there is a dialogue between both films, they are very different stories,” warns Garner by video call from her New York home.
She argues that these power dynamics are so embedded in diverse spheres that considering them a significant common feature is insufficient.
“Sadly, it's not surprising,” laments the actress, illuminated by the natural light that highlights her unforgettable blonde curls.
Garner highlights that Me Too has transformed various aspects of the industry: “There is a feeling of freedom and tranquility, as if we no longer have to constantly think: 'What if it happened to me?'
However, after returning to
Eve Naked
(1950) and
Singin' in the Rain
(1952), two of his favorite films, Garner, he says, has realized that certain structural problems remain unchanged: “After seeing them, I thought: 'My God, the industry hasn't changed at all.
In the end, the same song continues to play.”
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“That has marked my life.”
Awarded three Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe for her portrayal of Ruth Langmore in the series
Ozark
(2017-2022), Garner has gone from being one of the most promising actresses in Hollywood to becoming an established star.
She began acting to overcome shyness in school, and made her screen debut in 2011 as a cult member in
Martha Marcy May Marlene
.
The following year, she participated in independent films such as
Electrick Children
or
The Perks of Being a Wallflower
.
At 19,
The New York Times
already considered her a “movie veteran.”
The Wall Street Journal said
that she “recalls a figure from the 19th century, ideal to be portrayed in a painting, or a Western heroine from the 1940s.
She is, simply, from another world.
She shines.”
He has shown a penchant for atypical and morally ambiguous characters, such as in the miniseries
Who is Anna?
(2022), where she played Anna Delvey, a con artist who deceived New York's elite.
“I have been lucky enough to receive very interesting roles since I started acting.
At this point in my career, what I'm looking for is to work on timeless series or films that can be appreciated several years from now without losing their relevance."
Madonna chose her to star in a biopic about her, although the project's cancellation was recently announced.
She is now scheduled to participate, among other projects, in Blumhouse and Universal's remake of the 1941 monster classic
The Wolf Man
.
The Royal Hotel
is set in a small town in the outback of South Australia, and tells the experience of two backpackers who, after running out of money, start working in a bar in a remote mining town.
It is inspired by the 2016 documentary
Hotel Coolgardie
. The plot shows how what begins as a promising work adventure turns into a suffocating nightmare.
The friends are threatened night after night by their violent clients.
The workspace, as in
The Assistant
, is transformed into a house of horrors where the two young women are instrumentalized for male entertainment.
The actress is struck by the disparate reactions she has elicited in different countries.
“In Britain and Australia, many people have been fond of male characters.
In the US they think they are villains,” she describes.
To her, they are men trying, unsuccessfully, to control her toxic and violent behavior.
“They all fail miserably because of alcohol, they are unable to manage their anger.
This, added to deep-rooted sexism, is a reality that many men have been exposed to all their lives.”
The actress highlights her preference for films that capture the complexity of reality, something she values about her collaborations with Kitty Green: “For me the most important thing is to tell the truth.
Great art comes from telling the truth, that is the essential thing.”
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