BERLIN – Just a few hours earlier Russia began its invasion of Ukraine Almost a year ago, actor Sean Penn had his first on-camera meeting with the country’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
“It was like realizing to himself that he was born for this moment,” Penn recalled in an interview with The Associated Press at the 73rd Berlin International Film Festival on Saturday, a day after the festival premiere of his documentary Superpower. ”
Penn and his co-director Aaron Kaufman were in Kiev to shoot a film Profile of the comedic actor-turned-president when the war broke out. It would be the image of the President entering the room for that first interview that would have the greatest impact on Penn.
“It’s hard to explain, but there was a determination in response to something that no one has ever faced before,” Penn said.
At a news conference also on Saturday, Penn said they returned to the hotel after the interview The shelling began that same night. When they first met Zelenskyy, he had “a real suit and a real office.”
“The next time we saw him he was in camouflage and his country was at war,” Penn said.
The outbreak of war sent the documentary on an unexpected track. The film includes other interviews with the President conducted over the past year.
After the project was completed, the two continued to talk off-camera. Zelenskyy presented the Hollywood star who has been involved in numerous international humanitarian and anti-war efforts over the years – with the Ukrainian Order of Merit last year. Penn also received a plaque on a sidewalk in Kiev honoring heads of state who have shown solidarity with Ukraine.
Penn told the AP that Zelenskyy’s “mastery of the mechanisms of government” would surprise people the most.
“Not just his flair, but all he relies on to map diplomatic territory,” he said. “He is burning. He has this extreme gift for politics.”
Penn recalled the “civilization” he saw when he left Ukraine across the Polish border a few days after the invasion began.
“No one honked. No one was trying to drive around and take the other, and there was a kind of silent acceptance,” Penn said during the interview. “You know, and these were families torn apart. Some, most remain torn.”
On a later visit to Ukraine Penn loaned one of his two Oscars to Zelenskyy, told him, “If you win, take it back to Malibu.”
“The Oscar is in his office and can be melted at any time,” Penn clarified at the press conference after threatening to publicly smell his awards if Zelenskyj was not on the program of last year’s Oscars broadcast.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences did not include a video address from the president, opting for instead a minute’s silence in support of the people of Ukraine. Zelensky did Speech at the opening of the Berlinale on Thursdayexhorting artists and filmmakers to express their support for Ukraine.
Penn said at the press conference that the Oscar gift was inspired by his “enduring shame towards the leadership of the academy, the film academy, in choosing to present Will Smith beating Chris Rock rather than cinema’s biggest icon and.” of humanity today in its mission.”
Penn’s two Oscars were both for Best Actor, in 2003 for Mystic River and in 2008 for Milk. His previous directing work include “Flag Day”, “Into the Wild” and “The Promise”.
While it’s not uncommon for entertainers to champion a cause, in Superpower Penn travels to the front lines of war to speak to soldiers in the trenches. When it comes to his drive and determination, the star can’t tell you where that comes from.
“I could think of a number of answers,” he joked to the AP. “It’s something I ultimately don’t really think about, even though I’ve been asked a lot. … I have no words for it.”
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