![Director Udayan Prasad on the set of "The Yellow Handkerchief"](http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/hash/eb/a7/eba7d11e74949f184543cd501d75b265.jpg "Director Udayan Prasad on the set of "The Yellow Handkerchief"")
With big budget, mainstream films taking center stage, “The Yellow Handkerchief” is a breath of fresh air with a central theme of reconnecting with the basic aspect of our humanity, love. Director Udayan Prasad presents a story, with rural Louisiana as the backdrop, of four people who are at crucial points in their lives.
I call these types of films “slice of life” movies where we join characters at a point in time, stay with them for a while, and leave… It’s a lazy afternoon in a small Louisiana town. A young teenager named Martine (Kristen Stewart from the ‘Twilight’ movies) has issues with her father and decides to leave with nowhere in particular in mind. She accepts a ride from Gordy (Eddie Redmayne) an awkward young teen who had been eyeing her earlier in a roadside diner.
With nowhere particular in mind, they get on the road. Just when the uneasiness heightens for Martine, they meet Brett (William Hurt), a loner, humble middle age man just released from prison who needs a ride. In the midst of the pouring rain, the unlikely trio sets out, each person unsure of the destination, as Brett is unwillingly pulled into the mentoring role of the adult of reason. As Brett is adjusting to his freedom and issues of his own, they meet May (Maria Bello), a woman who has ‘turned off’ her emotions from a previous relationship and holds the world at bay.
The lives of these four, are heightened with the expectation of going forward with a new direction in life…
Starring William Hurt, Maria Bello, Kristen Stewart, Eddie Redmayne, Emmanuel Cohn, Nurith Cohn, and Veronica Russell.
Directed by Udayan Prasad. Written by Erin Dignam. Samuel Goldwyn Films release. Rated PG-13 for sexual content, some violence, language and thematic elements. Runtime: 102 minutes.
A conversation with director Udayan Prasad
Director Udayan Prasad was in Poland the day we talked, they’re eight hours in front of us in the MST time zone in the U.S. We shared a few moments reflecting on bringing “The Yellow Handkerchief” to the big screen!
Stan: As a retired 1st Assistant Director after 22 years of working, much congratulations on presenting a very moving and soul stirring story!
Udayan: Thank you Stan for such kind words, it was inspiring to do!
Stan: How did you come to be involved in bringing “The Yellow Handkerchief” to the big screen?
Udayan: One of my previous films called “My Son the Fanatic” brought us together for the “The Yellow Handkerchief”. At the time, although the screenplay needed a bit of work, there was something really profound in it so I came on board. And with the screenplay writer Erin Digman, who did a marvelous job on it, we found common ground, I made some suggestions on it, and that’s how we got it going! William Hurt liked the script and agreed to come on board, and from that others followed. Originally I had plan to make the movie in 2005 so I was scouting locations in Louisiana and a week after I finished my first scout, Hurricane Katrina hit. I saw how perfectly the film would work shooting in Louisiana and was determined to not to loose faith and we filmed it in 2008 and completed it in Louisiana!
Stan: It is a very beautiful part of the country. I worked on “The Adventures of Huck Finn” starring Elijah Wood and Courtney B. Vance where a lot of our locations were in Louisiana. This question may be a bit loaded (with a chuckle!), once you had your breakdown all set for shooting, what sequence did you think was going be the most challenging to shoot, and after you started shooting, which was the most challenging in reality! I know, it’s a bit loaded…
Udayan: ~ cutting in with a laugh ~ Oh wow, what a very interesting question! Well the most interesting thing about Louisiana Stan, and I’m sure you well know, is the unpredictability of the weather, it just changes in an instant. The sequence that stands out is the sequence on the ferry, we thought might be a tricky one to shoot, you know, (pause) I like to do things in camera. Shooting green screen, and the like, I’ll do it as a last resort! As it turned out, for the ferry sequence, we tried to shoot in camera, and finally we did have to go to studio and shoot green screen. As it turned out, the ferry sequence worked very well and we’re quite proud of that sequence! We were very careful to do our homework, both actors and crew. The images are so rich, our cinematographer Chris Menges is a genius as far as cinematography is concerned and is an extraordinary human being, it’s a miracle of what he accomplished with the various looks and textures of the locations!
Stan: It did work well, if you hadn’t told me I wouldn’t have been aware of that sequence being filmed green screen! ‘Pitch’ “The Yellow handkerchief” to the readers out there who have watched the trailer and have an interest in seeing your latest project!
Udayan: Brett, William Hurt’s character, has been given one last chance, and the fact is that you know there is a limit to how many chances you’re going to get in living life. He see’s it as his last chance, and like most of us, just wants’ to have one last shot at happiness, if there’s a future for him. Never let go, and never give up, it’s an inspiring message on living life!
Stan: It is indeed, and I thank you so very much for sharing this time with us, much continued success with “The Yellow Handkerchief”!
# # #
To view “The Yellow Handkerchief” trailer!
For “Showtimes” of “The Yellow Handkerchief” at a theater near you!
For pictures and wallpapers for “The Yellow Handkerchief”!
# # #
Comments