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Its hard for me to summarize what Bergman means to me because he means so much.
Ever since I started getting into his work in my 20s, when I read his autobiography.
His radicality, although the word doesnt mean anything anymore because its used too much.
But when you speak of Bergman, it does: He invented his own way of making films.
For me, hes an absolute model.
And some weird father figure, too.
His movies are so dark.Vicky Krieps:Yes.
And I love what Mia just said.
And its true if I think of Bergman, he always had this image of a bad father.
Its something dark that pulls you to it.
About how he had all of these children with different women and essentially abandoned them.
The curator says, He was as cruel in his life as in his art.VK:Yes!
Why are we drawn to it?
What does that mean?
Does it have to do with creativity?
Does creativity mean not raising a family?
Or is there another way to be an artist?
Theres this mystery, the power of creation that he represents.
The creativity that was Bergmans is unique.
Have you figured that out as it pertains to your own work and life?MHL:No!
But we keep talking about it.
VK:And then we wonder if its a downside or an advantage.
We feel its a struggle, which it is.
Which is fine because we choose to be mothers.
But its always with us.
Today we were like, maybe its an advantage, because it forces us to stay awake.
For Mia, for instance, I cant imagine how to write a script having two children.
Between the groceries, the cooking, the washing, taking the responsibility for these children when theyre sick.
MHL:Its also, even more crucially, the space that it takes in your head.
The space for dreaming, inventing, for yourself.
it’s crucial that you have your own private world.
Im not judging Bergman here.
Im not a moralist.
But I meditate on that.
Because I make an experience of life thats also deep.
Fifty percent, to cut this out of a normal day, is already hard.
So I think twice about what Im doing.
You cant just be like, Im going to the gym.
We laugh about that.
Both:The gym!
Is that what made you cry while introducing the movie, Mia?MHL:Yes.
Being back in the theater after the two years we just spent, too.
The warmth of the theater, that made me cry.
Years later, the idea of Faro came up.
Faro was a mythical place for me, as for many directors.
And I got extremely curious about that.
And then at some point, these two ideas met.
Mia, is that your writing experience?MHL:Its my whole life here!
Men have more of a need to put things down, and it can be their force.
And she finds the story by letting go.
MHL:Yes, its about finding another way.
And there is another way.
VK:And its not just for writers or creators.
Its for everyday life.
I could feel,This is not what I can do.I thought maybe I wouldnt be an actress then.
Then came thisPhantom Threadthing.
I remember being on set and having this actor,method actor.I remember accepting my weaknesses.
I remember thinking,This is my only chance.
I can never be as strong.
No way I can meet this guy.
Hes prepared his world for a year.
Hes like, this overactor.I remember sitting inside of my weakness and thinking,Okay, Im weak.
I remember standing in front of him and the camera, just going,Okay, this is me.
This is all I am.
you might look at me in my weakness.This was my mantra which kept me going throughout the film.
Have you readBrit Marlingspiece on how the heros journey is shaped like the arc of a male orgasm?
For Tony, its about efficiency.
He writes and he keeps everything for himself.
Whereas Chris needs to talk, to open up.
Hes stronger in that way; he seems like he doesnt need anybody.
He has his own fragility that the film doesnt explore.
Thats what I mean when I say, Thats her weakness.
Shes not as efficient as he is.
Something happened within the night or between two scenes, and you dont know what.
Thats how it works for me.
I can spend a year with no idea, feeling empty.
Theres a feeling of being weak and an inability to decide.
And then at some point, theres something happening.
Or was it more nuanced than that?VK:You did tell me about it.
Its just how it is.
Its not a replica of your life; its fueled by your life.
MHL:Its a reinvention.
It could have happened like this, but it didnt.
I was never on the island with my husband, but it could have been like this.
VK:This is something I could feel.
I cant say how.
But I felt a connection between me, Mia, and Mia.
But its not something we talked about.
The scene where I cry in bed theres no reason Im crying.
Its not like you told me I would cry.
But I knew exactly why.
We never talked about it, but I could feel a deeper something from you transmitting to me.
And Vicky was cast later in the process, right?
The role was already cast with Greta Gerwig but then she dropped out to doLittle Women.
How did that affect shooting?MHL:I had to stop before shooting.
She was in my mind since, but of course the part was already cast.
I never thought Id need her so early, but I wanted to work with her one day.
The first thing Id done when Id seenPhantom Threadwas check which language she speaks.
I was like, Wow!
It was like, how do you say, a crush!
I couldnt imagine anybody else now.
Vicky, what was your initial reaction to the script?
But I knew the father of my children would give me a hard time.
Theres always this fight of, What?!
Youre going to do another movie?!
There was nothing planned here and it was on such short notice.
But I knew the minute I saw it.
I saw one of your movies quite early, when I was not yet an actress.
I went into the film not knowing what it was going to be.
I had no idea she was so young.
I was sure it was someone older.
So when I read your name, I gasped.
The film within a film feels very much like one of your first movies,Goodbye First Love.
Its almost like a sequel to it.MHL:Yes.
Thats the way I see it.Goodbye First Loveis like the source for me.
Its not my first, but it could have been.
It symbolizes the source for me, for many reasons.
VK:Howdoyou ever get over your first love?
MHL:It took me ten years and many films.
You never really get away.
Its in phases, but it comes back and back.
And in years and years …
… youll make another installment?MHL:Probably.
I saw the person who plays me.
Im better than that guy.
Ill let you imagine that and make your own answer.
VK:I dont even think I know the answer.
I have many theories.
MHL:Ill tell you later.
