Interview: Kevin Macdonald Talks How I Live Now
People are often led to lash out at those closest to them, and feel the need to emotionally isolate themselves from further harm, as they struggle with feelings of abandonment and rejection. That’s particularly true for teens who feel as though their close relatives don’t love and support them, and it often takes a devastating situation to make them realize how appreciated they really are. That’s certainly the case for Daisy, the nonconformist, emotionally distant protagonist in director Kevin Macdonald’s new action crime thriller, ‘How I Live Now,’ which is based on the acclaimed 2004 novel of the same name by Meg Rosoff.
‘How I Live Now,’ which is set in the near-future U.K., follows 16-year-old New York rebel Daisy (Saoirse Ronan), who’s sent by her father to live with distant relatives in England, in hopes of escaping the danger of a war-torn America. Upon arriving at her cousins’ estate, Brackendale, in the English countryside, the alienated Daisy is initially hostile towards the children, particularly the oldest, Eddie (George MacKay). She also becomes increasingly unsympathetic towards Eddie’s brother, Isaac (Tom Holland), and their fragile sister, Piper (Harley Bird), who’s the youngest of the group.
Daisy eventually grows more receptive towards her new-found family, particularly Eddie, and the two form a romantic relationship. She learns to appreciate family members who value her opinions and concerns.
However the new welcoming family Daisy has grown to love is shattered when her aunt, who works as a defense data specialist, is sent on a sudden business trip to Geneva. The four children are left without supervision, while World War III suddenly breaks out across Europe. Daisy and her cousin’s idyllic summer together grows tense as alarming news reports arise about an increasingly violent, chaotic military state. Forced by the military police into foster care, the children are separated, leaving Daisy to become a surrogate mother to Piper. The group promises to find their way back to each other, leaving Daisy and Piper to go on a quest to find their way back home.
Macdonald took the time recently to talk about filming ‘How I Live Now.’ Among other things, the director discussed how he worked with the film’s screenwriters, particularly Penelope Skinner, to emphasize Daisy’s strong female voice throughout the story; how he decided to cast the Irish-raised Ronan in the lead role, as he feels she’s the most remarkable and talented actress of her generation; and how he likes Daisy and her story, because he likes plots where the main character has to go through a transformation.
Question (Q): You directed the new action drama thriller, ‘How I Live Now.’ What attracted you to the story and the script overall, and how did you become involved in the project?
Kevin Macdonald (KM): I read the book on which the script is based. I thought it was a deeply moving and original young adult book.
Q: Screenwriters Tony Grisoni, Jeremy Brock and Penelope Skinner all contributed to the film’s script. What was the process of working with the three of them on the movie-did you work with them at all on the screenplay?
KM: I worked mostly with Penelope Skinner-the other writers had worked on a draft before I was involved. I wanted a strong female voice at the heart of the film and felt a female writer would give me that.
Q: Saoirse Ronan plays the main character, Daisy, in the film. What was the casting process like for her, and how did you come to decide to hire her for the role?
KM: Saoirse is-in my opinion-the most remarkable and talented actress of her generation-bar none. But initially I had considered using a cast of amateur unknowns and casting an American girl in the lead, because the character is American. But once Saoirse had read for me, I realized that no one would ever be as good as her!
Q: Were you able to have any rehearsal periods with Saoirse and the rest of the cast before you began filming, to help build their relationships? What was the overall process of working with a cast that was primarily filled with teenagers and children?
KM: Yes, I rehearsed with the cast for a week or so before shooting. Almost as importantly was the ability to be able to work on their costumes and make-up with them and the costume and make-up designers.
Q: ‘How I Live Now’ tells Daisy’s coming-of-age story, as she tries to contend with her feelings about her father sending her to spend the summer with their family in the English country. Do you feel that audiences, particularly teens, can relate to her emotional struggles of initially feeling abandoned, and then gradually finding romantic love with Eddie?
KM: I think we all dream of being rescued by love! But a troubled teen-as many of us were-who is somebody who doesn’t know how to be loved let alone love someone else-is in need of transformation more than most.
Q: You have always been drawn to the prospect of making a serious film about the teenage experience, as well as one that featured a female lead and a love story, and ‘How I Live Now’ is the first project that allowed you to make that type of movie. What is it about the subject that drew you to Daisy’s story?
KM: I loved Daisy as a character because she starts off being so bitchy and hostile, and yet you know that beneath this tough shell is a very vulnerable, unhappy girl. I like stories where the main character has to go through a transformation-where they are different at the end than at the beginning. Daisy has to do that-she is completely different at the end than at the beginning.
Q: Since the events in ‘How I Live Now’ are mainly told through the perspective of largely oblivious teenagers, the story leaves a shroud of mystery around the actual events of the war happening in England. Why was it important to you to include that mystery of who the enemy is, and the actual events of the war?
KM: Once you have named something it becomes less scary. Ambiguity makes your imagination work overtime.
Q: You were born in Glasgow, Scotland, and now live in London. So what was the overall experience of shooting the film in southwest wales and the outskirts of London?
KM: Like Saoirse, I grew up in the countryside and experienced long summers where we had to make our own amusement, through such activities as swimming and camping. So I related to the experience of these kids.
Q: Do you have any upcoming projects lined up that you can discuss?
KM: I’m editing a new film called ‘Black Sea’ at the moment which is a thriller set on board a submarine. It stars Jude Law and half the cast is English speaking and the other half is Russian, which was a challenge!
