Best known as the charming druglord and politician on Showtime's Weeds, the Mexican superstar talks about his leading role in the upcoming dramatic feature.
, Demián Bichir delivers an amazing Oscar-worthy performance as Carlos, a hard-working gardener and illegal immigrant, whose endeavors to give his American-born teenaged son a brighter future are met with tragic consequences. The film was directed by the Oscar-nominated director of
, Chris Weitz.
During his recent promotional tour for the film in Miami, I had the opportunity to sit down with the very handsome, yet modest actor Mexican Demián Bichir, and discuss the soon to be released drama, including how he executed some of the film’s many emotionally powerful scenes.
Demián Bichir: My character a strong man, who works very hard in a very decent and honorable way to overcome any obstacles, in order to give his son a better life. Because he’s an undocumented worker, he needs to transit through life in a very discreet way, with an almost a low key type of personality trying to be almost invisible.
Q: How did you get involved with this film?
Demián Bichir: I met Chris Weitz almost two years ago, when he wanted to meet me for his vampire movie, New Moon. But, when I was called in to audition, he began talking to me about this gardener, and I didn’t understand. So, I said, “is this a gardener or a vampire role?”
No, it was another film [A Better Life], a great film, but they didn’t have a script yet. They sent it to me over a year later, and I fell in love with it instantly.
Q: How did you prepare for your character?
Demián Bichir: You have to go through a lot of work always for any character.
Whenever you step into a new project and character there’s a lot of work involved.
I always hope that I have enough time to do so, because sometimes films move very, very fast. But, I was able to have some time to put on weight. Chris and I decided that I had to add about 20-25 pounds. And, then, of course, learning everything about gardening and climbing up tall palms trees.
Then there is the emotional aspects of the character that was very, very hard to understand; to portray.
Core to the story is the father and son relationship as well as their generational divide.
Q: How did you and Jose Julian, who makes his feature film acting debut playing your son Luis, create your bond?
Demián Bichir: It was instant. We got along very well from day one. José Julián is the rare case of a new actor doing his first feature with such grace and talent, and savvy. He’s so smart, disciplined and professional. It was like seeing an old actor in action. He’s always ready to learn; he’s like a sponge.
We spent a lot of time together, before shooting and during rehearsals, even. We spent long conversations with Chris, talking about our characters and their relationship. Then, during production, we a lot of spent time together; we had breakfast, lunch and dinner, as much as we could.
And, we’re still friends.
Q: So, it must have been hard after the film was over with, then?
Demián Bichir: He tells a story about the film. At the end of the film at the detention center, he was a little bit nervous, because it was a very emotional scene, and it was very hard [for him] to get into it. And then, he was also having problems to fully, deeply concentrate.
So I talked to him, I told him, you know, I don’t know if you realize this, but we are not going to see each other again. He broke down. He looked at me, like are you serious?! When this is over, I’m going away from your life, and that’s it, alright? That was very hard for him, because we had become very good friends. Even now, as I tell this story, I’m getting goose bumps,
Now, he tells this story about what I did and how it worked; it helped to bring him into the mood.
The emotional impact of this film comes greatly from your strong Oscar-worthy portrayal of Carlos. In a particular scene, occurring at the detention center, a fellow detainee had just swiped your phone calling card, and without any dialogue, you were able to convey your desperation in your face alone, and win the sympathy of the hoodlum.
Q: How did you prepare for that scene?
Demián Bichir: It’s so important that you mention this scene. We didn’t want to say one word. We did want to go into any violence. This card means his passport to probably talk to his son for the last time. So don’t even try.
It’s not that you prepare that specific part, but for the whole ride. When you work, you ready to go into a really crazy journey.
At that point, for when that particular scene comes, I was intentionally having less hours of sleep, on my own, so I could have puffier eyes, and look really tried and desperate and sad. So that’s what you can do physically to help achieve that.
Q: Why was this story important to make as a film?
Demián Bichir: First of all it’s a good script regardless of the matter, or issue. Second, because it deeply touches your heart, and opens your mind. If you’re an Hispanic, an immigrant or undocumented worker in this country, it’s going to be very close to you. But, if you are Anglo, if you don’t speak Spanish, if you’ve never had to leave your country to have a better life, you will be touched as well.
And, if you don’t understand, in a clear way, what the immigration problem is about, you will, when you see this film.
Q: Is your character, the handsome & charming druglord-slash-politician, Esteban, returning to Showtime’s Weeds this season?
Demián Bichir: They just showed the episode last night, and they killed Esteban in jail. There are rallies all over the world asking for Esteban to come back to life, from the dead!
Q: What other projects do you have in the works?
Demián Bichir: I planning soon to go back to Mexico to do a play, Swimming with Sharks based on the film done by Kevin Spacey twelve years ago. It’s the theater version. I haven’t done a play in Mexico for over five years, although I have in Los Angeles. Before that, in July, I’m going to shoot with Oliver Stone in his new film. It’s called Savages.
Q: What has your experience been like to be a famous celebrity in Mexico, then coming to LA to re-establish your talent as an actor in the US?
Demián Bichir: It’s been quite a ride; it’s been quite trip. I don’t really think about fame, I just think about expanding my horizons. I tried to do what I do any where in the world. That’s why I shot films in Bolivia, Columbia, Ireland, Spain, anywhere. Wherever there’s a good story, and you want me in it, I’ll take a plane.
A Better Life will be released into movie theaters in July 2011 by Summit Entertainment.
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