As often happens, the most outrageous and off kilter minds are housed within soft-spoken and unassuming people. Is he an accountant, entomologist or actuarialist? No, he's one of the most edgy and acclaimed filmmakers on the independent scene today. The works of Todd Solondz can be aptly described as darkly quirky, deadpan outrageous, over the edge controversial. Outwardly, all his films deal with middle class, American families and their daily lives, but turn to the underside of our culture quickly to reveal how seemingly good people deal with problems faced by so many of us. In 'Life During Wartime,' we return to the three Jordan sisters and the people the love whom we first met in Mr. Solondz's 1999 film 'Happiness'. He has recast these same characters with other actors. He tells us in his interview with Bonnie Steiger it's because time changes people. They have moved on; they are in many respects different now. Also, since he already directed the very talented actors of 'Happiness,' there would be no challenge in directing them again. Still, maybe he's just screwing with our heads. But admittedly, 'Life During Wartime" stands on its own; one doesn't have to have seen 'Happiness' to fully enjoy this, his latest film. Still it is fun to compare and contrast -- not the actors' performances, but where the characters have gone on to over the past decade.
We talk about where his ideas come from, how he deals with children in some very delicate situations, and generally probe the mind of this very funny, very serious, very unique filmmaker.
Director/Writer: Todd Solondz
Cast: Shirley Henderson, Michael K. Williams, Allison Janney, Michael Lerner, Dylan Riley Snyder, Ciaran Hinds, Paul Reubens, Charlotte Rampling, Ally Sheedy, Rich Pecci, Renee Taylor
Time: 98 min.
Opens August 6 at the Lumiere Theatre in San Francisco.
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