I feel anxious when I'm not making movies - Ari Aster's "Midsommar" [Director's Interview Vol.55]

The one theme that cannot be overcome is "family"

Q: I feel like director Ali has been portraying strange family relationships ever since his first films. Did you get this theme of "family" from the movies you just mentioned, or did it come from within yourself?

Ari: I think it comes from my own experiences and what's always in my mind, rather than what I got from the work. By writing scripts and making movies, I have put a lid on the obsessions within me. There's just one thing I can't overcome...and that's my family.

Q: When I watch “Hereditary” and “Midsommar,” I feel that the theme of “faith” is also important. How about this one?

Ali: Well, I think he's interested not just in religion, but in tribalism, ritual, The Day After tradition. When people live together, each person's ``traditions'' collide with the ``traditions'' of others. I'm drawn to the essential aspects of how difficult it is to live or survive with others.

Q: I see, "faith" is also connected to "tradition" and "family"... By the way, when you write a script, what kind of process do you go through, for example, do you come up with a scene immediately, or do you build it logically based on ``I want to write this kind of character''?

Ali: It's different every time. However, what I feel is the best way to write is to choose the theme that excites you the most. In other words , it's best to write about it when you're in crisis. ).

At the same time, I'm a visual person, so the first thing that comes to my mind is an image. That vision becomes the driving force that pushes me through the writing process, as well as the filmmaking itself, until the very end. Both Hereditary and Midsommar had one or two clear visions like that.

Q: Huh! By the way, in the case of "Midsommar", what was the first scene that came to mind...?

Ali: Should I tell you? Spoilers though. It's a scene towards the end.

Q: Oops... For the fans' enjoyment, let's keep it to the "last".

Ali: (laughs). Also...I really value the characters. It's important that I understand the characters better than anyone else. When you're writing a script, you have to have a level of understanding that allows you to fully embody each character.

I believe that a story must emerge from the situation and background of the characters. Rather than creating a character to suit the scene.

I feel anxious if I don't write. I always want to create things