As a film critic with a background in disability studies, I was deeply moved by the heartfelt words of Susan Squibb and Marina Hechinger during their recent interview about their film “Thelma.” Their personal connections to the material and the sense of community they built around this project resonated strongly with me.
June Squibb has had an extraordinary career on stage and screen.
In 1959, she started on Broadway by taking over from the original cast in Gypsy. Since then, she’s been featured in significant films such as The Age of Innocence, Far From Heaven, and Nebraska, where her performance brought her an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress.
Up until now, Squibb hadn’t taken the main part in a movie. However, with “Thelma,” directed by Josh Margolin, she receives top billing for the very first time at the grand age of 94.
In this role, she portrays a grandma character, modeled after the filmmaker’s real-life grandmother, who sets out for vengeance when conned out of ten thousand dollars in a scam specifically designed to deceive elderly people with pensions.
Despite being the leading role in her career, Squibb shares that this position didn’t significantly alter her on-set experience.
I was strongly drawn to Thelma’s project when they invited me for a single day of work. The exceptional script made me consider accepting their offer right away. After all, I value scripts of such quality.
Based on my own experiences and perspective, I don’t typically frame things in those terms. Instead, it’s all about the role itself that appeals to me or not. After all, my life experiences have shaped my preferences and priorities, guiding me towards opportunities that resonate with me.
I’m thrilled to have been given the opportunity to act in a movie that brings attention to issues concerning older adults, a group that I believe hasn’t received enough representation in films up until now.
She expressed her fascination, saying, “It’s exciting to see age being acknowledged and appreciated in Hollywood now. I believe this topic piques the interest of many people.”
“I find it intriguing that there’s currently a great deal of buzz surrounding the topic you frequently read about in magazines and books. It’s capturing everyone’s attention, and considering my age, it only adds to my fascination!”
She mentioned that while they hadn’t talked extensively about the true Thelma, Margolin shared some old home videos of his grandma with her. These clips showed her “doing groceries or working at her computer” and were watched by her prior to filming.
In the end, she came to understand and connect with Thelma by just reading the script. Thelma turned out to be a character readers could easily relate to.
In looking back on all the experiences and connections I’ve had as a nearly 90-year-old, I can’t help but be deeply moved by Josh’s heartfelt script. Each word rings true for me.
He doesn’t bring sadness with him. Instead, we’re reminded that aging is a natural part of life. And he manages to inspire a sense of vitality, encouraging us to embrace each day and move forward.
I’ve had the pleasure of watching many films throughout my life, but this one holds a special place in my heart. The reason is simple: it authentically portrays the aging process, something we all go through as part of life’s natural cycle. As someone who has lived long enough to witness the passage of time, I can’t help but feel a sense of pride and connection when I see it reflected on the screen. It’s a poignant reminder that while we may grow older, our experiences and the stories we carry with us remain timeless. So, I think this film is truly beautiful in its honesty about age.
I was deeply moved by the special bond between Thelma and her grandson Danny in the movie. Fred Hechinger brought the character to life beautifully as her dedicated and loving grandson.
“He believed that Danny and Thelma’s friendship was the strongest and possibly sole source of stability in Danny’s life. He found it deeply moving and inspiring.”
I can identify with that experience. What made this project unique for me was that everyone involved in the film’s production, including our actors and the entire crew, seemed to have a deep personal attachment to the story.
“They had someone dear to them in mind while creating this, and now sharing it globally brings immense joy. People are deeply interested in discussing such heartfelt connections.”
As a devoted cinema lover, I can’t help but feel disappointed that these particular stories and themes have not received their due recognition on the big screen. Yet, I’m thrilled and humbled by the opportunity to bring this captivating work to life through our production.
As Thelma embarks on her mobility scooter to retrieve the money taken from her, the movie draws inspiration from various action films, subtly referencing elements akin to Mission: Impossible, as evident in an earlier scene where June and Danny are seen watching it on TV.
It’s worth noting that Tom Cruise gave his approval for those mentions, although it’s uncertain if he has fully watched the movie yet, according to Squibb and Hechinger.
Squibb admitted, “We were told… but to be honest, we’re unsure. He possesses the film or a connection to it, yet we don’t know if he has watched it.”
Hechinger concurred, admitting, “Just like you, I’m unsure if he watched it himself.” However, we have his approval to include in our film the clip of us watching Mission: Impossible on TV.
I recall the day we learned that Tom had watched our table read of that scene and also read the script version himself afterwards.
“So that was, like, that was a big gift – it was like Christmas!”
The film, which generally brings joy to viewers, is accompanied by a sense of sadness upon its release. Regrettably, Richard Roundtree, portraying June’s ally Ben in her quest, passed away from pancreatic cancer before the movie hit screens, at the age of 81.
And both Squibb and Hechinger have many fond memories of their time working with him.
Squibb remarked, “He was truly delightful. His sense of humor never failed to make us laugh, and his friendly demeanor made him an exceptional person to be around. It’s heartbreaking that we only got to enjoy his company for a limited time before he passed away.”
“Hechinger expressed, ‘His absence is deeply felt by us. Sharing this tale with him is a privilege. His portrayal in the film is not only significant but also heartwarmingly humorous and rich in depth.'”
I believe he was deeply passionate about making that film. It seemed to me that he yearned to display this aspect of himself through his acting and bring the character to life.
Hechinger went on to tell a story that summed up Roundtree’s presence on set.
During the penultimate week of filming in June, it was her birthday on set. To celebrate, everyone donned white wigs. When June looked around, she was surprised to see a vast number of us, both crew and cast members, wearing white wigs.
On that particular day, Richard didn’t have to work, yet he unexpectedly showed up with an armful of roses for June. He wore a white wig, adding a charming touch to his appearance. Richard was the epitome of a gentleman and an exquisite artist, both inside and out.
Thelma is released in UK cinemas on Friday 19th July 2024.
Read More
- DOGS PREDICTION. DOGS cryptocurrency
- SQR PREDICTION. SQR cryptocurrency
- HI PREDICTION. HI cryptocurrency
- METIS PREDICTION. METIS cryptocurrency
- LDO PREDICTION. LDO cryptocurrency
- UXLINK PREDICTION. UXLINK cryptocurrency
- EVA PREDICTION. EVA cryptocurrency
- CLOUD PREDICTION. CLOUD cryptocurrency
- TON PREDICTION. TON cryptocurrency
- KNINE PREDICTION. KNINE cryptocurrency
2024-07-18 22:49