The Film Forum

Playing by Heart: Q&A With Angelina Jolie (Continued)

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How would you describe that message? What do you think the film says about the contemporary world climate?
I think it says a few things. I think the message is the importance of the relationships that were in that house. This film is not about two people of different faiths and one that killed the other. This film is mainly about all the people that came together to find another man. They are all of different faiths and all of different backgrounds and worked well together to try to save someone, and that that is possible. That is very much what we need more of, and need to try to find and look for today. At the same time, there are things that Mariane says about terrorism ... That poverty and lack of education breeds these kinds of terrorists and that's a fact, that's something that we all need to focus on. And not just aggression but understanding what causes people to cross over into that kind of a place. Where is it bred and why? And so many things. I think many people will see it and have a slightly different feeling one way or the other.

Did you find it emotionally draining as a mother to take on this role?
It's a strange thing. When you do something that's emotional, in some ways it's emotionally draining as a person but it makes you closer to your family. I think at the end of the day with many of these scenes, I would go home and be so grateful that I knew where my family was and that they were safe.

How instrumental was Brad in bringing this project into fruition?
Very. He was the one who bought the book. He sat down with Mariane, convinced her to sell it to him. He held onto it for a while and then helped pull all the pieces together.

You guys seem to do a good job of switching off working to care for your family. Does that get tough to manage?
No, well, if we were both acting, it would be hard with all the kids but not [with Brad] as a producer, because he was able to do so much before we started. Then once I was busy and the film had started, it was a lot of him having to maintain everything OK and I'm sure getting on the phone a lot and having some meetings. But most of all, he could spend time with the kids.

Is it possible for you to gauge the general perception of Americans when you're working or traveling in these corners of the globe? Or do you find those reactions distorted or blurred by your celebrity?
Yeah, I've been traveling for six years or something like that now, and when I first started traveling there was a lot more enthusiasm for America and, 'You're American ... I want to go to America ... I love America.' But now it's a lot more hesitant ... There is just a feeling out there that isn't that positive and it makes me very sad because the American people are very generous, open people and very caring when they are presented with a real issue and they understand what needs to be done. But somehow I think [that] is not crossing over into our foreign policy.

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