Renate Reinsve Was Asked Not to Know the Truth in Fjord
The actress also talked about finding power in what was considered the smaller role
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Renate Reinsve has become an actress whose name on the marquee immediately implies a movie that will leave you with questions. From The Worst Person in the World, to A Different Man and Sentimental Value, Reinsve is one of the most intriguing actresses currently working today. And in her latest feature, Fjord, she not only is challenging the audience in what to expect of her performances, but she simultaneously challenged herself.
The film details what happens when a Romanian couple (Reinsve and Sebastian Stan), newly moved to Norway, are accused of abusing their children. The movie opens up discussion about religious tolerance, political ideology, and the way the truth can be blurred.
As director Cristian Mungiu revealed in an interview with The Film Maven last week, Reinsve was offered both female roles: that of the family matriarch, Lisbet, as well as the attorney who decides to help the family, Mia (eventually played by Lisa Carlehed). "Renate was the most prominent actress coming out of Norwegian cinema," Mungiu told The Film Maven. "We had a very good conversation as soon as I got to Oslo. I confessed that I didn't know for which part in the film she [was] better [suited for]. So she was willing to read for both parts, and in a very interesting way she was attracted more to this role of a mother."
Reinsve herself was also surprised that the role gravitated towards her. Mungiu had told her the role of Mia had more substance to it, no doubt being the showier of the two performances. They both, before Reinsve read the script, presumed that'd be the role she would take. But upon reading the script Reinsve kept finding herself drawn to Lisbet. For the actress, there was "the curiosity of playing someone so different from me," she said. "I had to change my physicality. I had to change a lot of thought patterns going into the role." She almost felt a bit ashamed having to text Mungiu to tell him she preferred the other role. "We had a back and forth, and I think we have very different communication styles so I didn't understand if I had a role at all for a long time."
That's not to say she wouldn't have appreciated the role of Mia, Reinsve said, but there was love starting to bloom for the other character. "I started visiting different churches, and talking to people with a relationship to God that I never had growing up, and just really dived into [who] she was. It was a really great process," Reinsve said.
The role of Lisbet is one that requires substantial moments of quiet. Being raised as a devoutly religious woman, the character often defers to her husband and is forced to find strength in her own way. "I was very curious about [what] it would be like being so quiet," Reinsve said. "She's never outspoken." And yet the actress read the character's empathy and compassion as a sign of Lisbet's power. "She was comfortable having her husband speak on her behalf, because she knew that he knew what she was thinking anyway, and she was really shy, but still very certain of her own opinions," Reinsve said. "I found that so fascinating."
The best part of my interview with Renate Reinsve is waiting forGold Star Crew members. Hear Reinsve's thoughts on the ambiguous nature of the film. Unlock the full interview ⬇️
