David Gutnik and Assol Abdullina from MATERNA interviewed at 2020 Naples International Film Festival; stories of personal transformation become a battle for survival

David Gutnik and Assol Abdullina from MATERNA interviewed at 2020 Naples International Film Festival; stories of personal transformation become a battle for survival

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WHO DID WE TALK TO:

David Gutnik (director/co-writer) and Assol Abdullina (co-writer and star) of MATERNA

WHAT’S THE STORY BEHIND THE INTERVIEW:

This was an interview we did during the pandemic (check out the quarantine goatee!)  The film won the Best Narrative Feature Award at the 2020 Naples International Film Festival.

WHAT’S THE FILM ABOUT:

Jean, Mona, Ruth and Perizad’s worlds are radically different, separated by race, culture, politics, religion and class. And yet, as their storylines intersect, we come to understand their shared isolation and their shared struggle for identity and connection. With their futures at stake, the characters’ lives are upended by a fateful encounter underground, where their stories of personal transformation become a battle for survival. The film also stars Lindsay Burge, Kate Lyn Scheil, and Jade Eshete.

WHAT DO WE TALK ABOUT:

We talk about the challenges of keeping a balance between multiple storylines within the same film, as well as figuring out a work process sharing the work between three different writers.

David also talks about the different approach to directing the women starring in MATERNA (his feature debut, by the way), finding what shorthand worked for one and what more intensive work was needed by another. Knowing when to “get out of the way” was a key for him -especially with actors like Lindsay, Kate, Jade, and Assol at his disposal. Assol talks about the effort to shape and guide her performance in the part of the story she herself co-wrote. Finally, we discuss shooting in New York City on the downlow, and “stealing” shots on the subway.

WHERE CAN YOU SEE THE FILM:

MATERNA is available on Hulu.

David Gutnik and Assol Abdullina from MATERNA interviewed at 2020 Naples International Film Festival; stories of personal transformation become a battle for survival