Montana Story is a quiet and measured movie, however there are intense, messy feelings effervescent beneath its floor. Written and directed by Scott McGehee and David Siegel, the movie facilities on the turbulent relationship between a pair of estranged siblings, Erin (Haley Lu Richardson) and Cal (Owen Teague), who discover themselves unexpectedly reunited on their household ranch. Introduced collectively by their father’s failing well being, Erin and Cal spend most of Montana Story dancing round one another, making transient makes an attempt to reconnect, however by no means acknowledging the traumatic occasion that separated them within the first place.
The movie forces Teague and Richardson to hold the total weight of its story on their shoulders. If both actor’s efficiency did not really feel genuine, then Montana Story would collapse in on itself. Thankfully, each Teague and Richardson are succesful younger actors and their performances in Montana Story are gorgeous. In Richardson’s case, her work right here simply looks like one more notch within the belt of an actor who has been constantly delivering starmaking performances for a number of years now.
With Montana Story hitting theaters, Richardson lately spoke with Digital Tendencies about what it was like making the contemplative new Western. The star, who’s at present in Italy filming the second season of HBO’s The White Lotus, additionally shared why Montana Story‘s “thorough” manufacturing design and remoted setting helped her get into the top of somebody who has made a behavior out of bottling up their feelings.
Notice: This interview has been edited for size and readability functions.
Digital Tendencies: The movie seems to be stunning, however the circumstances additionally appeared like they may have been harsh at instances. What had been your experiences like taking pictures in Montana?
Haley Lu Richardson: I imply, it was fairly windy some days [laughs]. I used to be like, “Is that this footage going to be usable?” However I don’t keep in mind the weather being that tough. I feel the tougher factor for me was simply the emotional house that I needed to be in to play Erin and, at instances, that was heavy. But additionally, at different instances, it was actually cathartic and good.
You’re very remoted within the film. I’m assuming that helped get into the character’s headspace?
Oh, yeah, for certain. I feel that the extra particular you can also make the world round you when you’re filming, the higher the method is as a result of it feels extra actual. There’s extra to type of hook up with and draw from. Once we had been in Montana, we had been filming simply outdoors of Bozeman at this ranch that’s in the midst of nowhere. There’s nowhere to run off to or conceal, so you’re feeling such as you type of need to give up to that kind of life and that kind of power. I liked that. I feel it undoubtedly helped.
I all the time discover it attention-grabbing when actors have to provide slow-burn performances and preserve a whole lot of their playing cards near their chest. Erin’s actually solely allowed to completely open up close to the top of the movie. How did that have an effect on your course of this time round?
I wasn’t actually serious about it that method. I used to be serious about what Erin could be feeling having to return residence. I don’t suppose it’s that she’s deliberately holding again or simply hinting at her feelings. For her, it’s extra like the one method she’s in a position to perform in these circumstances is by closing off. She has large obstacles and limits up, and he or she’s nonetheless suppressing a lot of the anger and the reality of what she’s actually feeling. The vulnerability doesn’t come till the top, however oh, man, it’s heavy.
I feel the explanation that works throughout the broader context of the film is that the character actually can’t categorical extra till one thing occurs that could be a catalyst that permits her to precise what she’s feeling.
The primary time that we see your character, within the movie she’s carrying very bright-colored clothes, which makes her stand out from the remainder of the movie’s characters. Was {that a} resolution you made your self or one thing you got here to by way of collaboration?
I had ideas about how Erin would look, however it’s nice whenever you meet the costume folks. It’s a enjoyable collaboration and also you’re in a position to get concepts from them that you simply wouldn’t have ever considered or vice versa since you’re actually in a position to create one thing collectively. We type of got here up with what Erin’s life has been in New York since she ran away from residence and thought of who she grew to become and the way she expresses herself. It’s a really distinctive look, particularly the coat she wears when she first arrives.
You’ll be able to inform she outlets at thrift shops and there’s nearly a grandmother ingredient to her. I felt like she was a little bit of a curmudgeon, like a grandmother curmudgeon. There’s one thing that’s so grownup about her. I feel it comes from her trauma and her looking for issues that really feel like her or that really feel like residence. Issues that give her some type of consolation.
The designs of Erin and Cal’s rooms within the film additionally really feel very particular. Was there something in Erin’s room that you simply thought was essential or that helped you together with your efficiency?
Haley Lu Richardson: Properly, the manufacturing design of the entire movie and the ranch home is so good. Scott McGehee’s sister, Kelly, was the manufacturing designer, and he or she did such a superb job. I believed the whole lot was so thorough and actual and lived-in and particular. I like that as a result of, once more, whenever you’re round that type of specificity, it’s a lot simpler to connect with this character that you’re basically making up from a web page and your personal ideas. The manufacturing design was actually useful throughout that complete course of.
However I believed Erin’s room, in particular, was so mild, which I discovered so eerie and unhappy. You realize, I feel Cal has a line within the movie about how Erin and her dad had loads in widespread. They had been each type of fiery and opinionated. However I do suppose that there’s this mild lover of horses and lover of ranch life inside Erin, and that was tainted by what occurred to her. It’s unhappy to me that her gentleness was type of tainted and misplaced. However, then once more, I don’t suppose it was misplaced eternally as a result of, ultimately, her vulnerability and love do floor once more.
Montana Story is now enjoying in theaters.
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