Atom Egoyan
Atom Egoyan
Atom Egoyan, CCis a Canadian director, writer, producer and former actor. Egoyan made his career breakthrough with Exotica, a film set primarily in and around the fictional Exotica strip club. Egoyan's most critically acclaimed film is the drama The Sweet Hereafter, and his biggest commercial success is the erotic thriller Chloe. Egoyan has been nominated for two Academy Awards: Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay, both for The Sweet Hereafter. He also won several awards at Cannes Film Festival, Toronto...
NationalityCanadian
ProfessionDirector
Date of Birth19 July 1960
CityCairo, Egypt
CountryCanada
I have always felt that this story is universal. When I began to understand the details of the history, I felt that the most compelling aspect was not what happened, but what continues to happen and how it is denied.
The father's greatest folly is that he believes he can be a much more simple person than he is; he is not really able to deal with his own complexity as a human being.
The whole film is about people being convinced that they can reduce themselves to their archetypes.
And then of course there is a whole dialogue between the spirit of the film camera, which is something I was focusing on very strongly in the film.
As a parent, I would feel comfortable taking a mature 16- or 17-year-old to this movie. I feel dismayed that they wouldn't now be able to see it in a theater. Yet there is a double standard, because anyone can watch it at their home.
As a parent, I would feel comfortable taking a mature 16, 17-year-old to this movie. I feel dismayed that they wouldn't now be able to see it in a theater. Yet there is a double standard because anyone can watch it at their home.
I think that's one of the real joys of working with a small budget - that you have to determine exactly what it is that you need and want to say.
It's not as though I'm working in some sort of vacuum, I do know exactly what my options are and it is a creative choice to go one way or the other.
If I knew how restrictive (the MPAA was), I would have had an entirely different conversation with the actors.
He's my hero, so any time I get to wade into his world is pretty satisfying.
I could have made it better this is the proof. If it was good enough to win the award, I thank you.