Clarín journalist Lucila Olivera got an interview with the Hollywood star to reveal the details behind the filming of Operation Valquiria.
On the tape of Brian Singer, the actor Tom Cruise takes on the role of Nazi Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg, a military man who planned to assassinate Adolf Hitler. The premiere involved harsh controversies due to the delicate subject and the pronunciation against the project of von Stauffenberg's son, who came out to say that Cruise was not the right person to play his father.
The words of the director and actor cover topics such as the effort required to make such a film, the problems of exposure they had, the political significance that filming it entailed: “Doing Operation Valkyrie was an incredible experience. To begin with, as soon as I read the script I knew it was a great suspense story, a great thriller. Also, I always wanted to work with Bryan. And look at these companions that I have. They really are a luxury, a tremendous team, very unique and talented. I must say that every day that I shared with them I couldn't wait to go to work. There is no way to detach yourself from this story, whether you know it or not. And that was a challenge: you had to be true to the facts and at the same time entertain the audience.
Next, the entire interview:
What caught you the most in the story?
Cruise: Which is true and has suspense. And that tells the other part of the story, the less known: that of the Germans who did not resign themselves to having their lives guided by Hitler. I must admit that I did not know the whole story. Well, I knew about the briefcase and the bomb, but no details. Of course, once I agreed to do it, which was right away, I read everything I could about it.
Singer: This is not a movie about the Holocaust. It is a conspiracy thriller. And it has the bonus that everything is true. Even some things that might seem like a Hollywood twist aren't.
Cruise: It is important to note that there were people who resisted early on. When we test it, we bring it to the North American audience. And the responses we got afterwards were extraordinary. This is not a History Channel documentary. Doing it gave us a great responsibility. I worked about eight months before with Bryan, Chris Mc Quarrie (screenwriter and producer) and Nathan Alexander (screenwriter), researching, reading. There is some incredible dialogue from the film that Bryan and Chris discovered by reading family correspondence.
You also learned some German, right?
Cruise: I studied a little German and actually use it at the beginning of the film, but then the decision was not to try to imitate the accent. I wish I could speak it fluently.
Why was it that the premiere took so long?
Singer: It is true that at first it was intended to release before but there were scenes that took a long time, longer than expected, such as the one in Africa. We went to Jordan, to Spain and ended up in California. But nothing else.
Cruise: Anyway, I don't think the date is important.
How true is that they had a lot of incidents when they were filming in Germany?
Singer: There could be something isolated, some very small group. Perhaps the fact that a great star was there telling a little part of his story could generate something in the yellow press. However, I have to say that we work at each planned location with no problems.
Cruise: I think that while we were filming there were like two worlds. The one with the yellow press, who wants to sell more and get good titles, and ours, dedicated only to making the best possible film. What was reflected in the media was not what was happening. I was with my family in Germany and for everyone it was a great experience. I don't just make movies: I shoot what really challenges me. Like when I did Born on July 4, which took me over a year to prepare. That is the spirit with which I approach my work.
But do you understand that it is a controversial issue in Germany?
Cruise: I know it is. Because of how I was raised, it is strange for me to understand the obligation to swear obedience to a single person, not having the possibility of having ideas and desires of my own. That is why one cannot imagine how sensitive it can be to talk about these things. However, there were no incidents and we were treated very well. What's more: this shoot was one of the best experiences I had in my career. It is a tragedy that, at the same time, is very inspiring. Stauffenberg's farewell to his children and his wife was heartbreaking for me. While filming he wondered what he would do in a situation like the one that happened to him, if he would be able to risk everything. And I think you don't know until you are in the situation.
Did they have contact with relatives?
Singer: Yes, of course, it was very useful to tell the stories of their experiences, see some photos and whatever they wanted to share.
Cruise: We were also at the location where they were executed. There were relatives, it was very strong to share that with them. I will never, ever be able to forget what we lived in Germany. And there were people who, while we were filming, thanked us for telling the other part of the story.
Source: Clarin