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This interview was originally published during the Sundance Film Festival.
Every director has a postapocalyptic vision in them fiery skies, ravaging bike gangs, zombies running amok.
Reed Moranos is mostly just lonely.
While the film takes place after a cataclysmic event, the nature of the disaster is never explained.
Morano and writer Mike Makowsky are more interested in the lives of the few remaining survivors.
The title of the film is very accurate talk about a two-hander.
Especially with someone like Elle, who was a big help.
It would have been very hard working with someone who was difficult or demanding.
Was that a lot of what attracted both of you to the project?
RM:Definitely for me.
I love when you might delve into one or two characters.
And actually, I love it when its two.
PD:And you dont have some supporting actor stealing your thunder.
Where did you shoot the film, out of curiosity?RM:In upstate New York.
In about five towns, actually.
How did that work?
Do you just pay the entire town to go on vacation or something?RM:Oh my god.
It was not easy.
PD:It was tricky.
PD:People were on their way to work, and we were like, Nope!
You cant go to work.
But for the most part, they were very accommodating.
For the most part.
RM:They really were.
We just had to be very strategic about it.
I feel like my character was just kind of okay with it happening or he thought he was.
He didnt want to find out.
RM:I think he was.
PD:I dont think he lies.
He doesnt have anything to hide.
That can be somebodys story, too.
RM:I was okay not knowing.
I was more concerned with if everyone who sees the movie was going toneedto know.
But I also decided, you know, fuck that, because its gonna be …
I find these two characters so compelling together and I know their potential.
But in the unknown, theres a lot of profound messages.
But its not really whats important at the end of the day, when youre actually in that situation.
PD:Theyre not scientists.
RM:Theyrereallynot scientists.
PD:They dont know, so as an audiencewedont know.
And I love that.
It has so much restraint, and youre really just an observer, walking right next to them.
And I like that about it, because it makes your mind work harder.
I like movies that challenge me, that I can form my own ideas about.
That seemed like a pretty amazing way to live out the apocalypse.PD:Red wine would only get better.
RM:Even boxed red wine.
Because I think actually, originally, Del was not a drinker.
PD:Yes, that was something we changed from the original script.
RM:And then Pete said, you know, I really want tonotbe not a drinker.
And I was like, Thank god!
Because I just think, youve got to.
