When actor Peter Sarsgaard was asked by Variety magazine about his opinion on the character of Saul, a person suffering from dementia which is played by him in the upcoming drama film ‘Memory,’ the Volpi Cup winner expressed how he sees the positivity behind his role’s mental condition.
“I really wanted to make this a different portrayal. Dementia is his condition, but it’s not his character. This is a guy who has a limited amount of time in his life, and he knows it. But he’s still quite viable throughout the movie.”
He continued, “I liked that he was a positive person; He wasn’t just going to be some sad character in his bed at home. There’s a group in New York called Reimagining Dementia — I didn’t work with them directly, but I worked with a doctor associated with them. And it’s about just that — having a different point of view.”
It wasn’t until after “Memory” was shot that Peter Sarsgaard found out that his co-star Jessica Chastain had proposed to him for the part of Saul, who starts building a unique relationship with Chastain’s character of Sylvia, a social worker.
The film had its first premiere on 8 September 2023, after being chosen to compete for the Golden Lion at the 80th Venice International Film Festival, where Sarsgaard’s performance also earned him the Volpi Cup for Best Actor. In America, it opened in a small number of theaters on 22 December 2023 and is set to release worldwide on 5 January 2024.
Some Other Questions Asked
The following interactions take place between Peter Sarsgaard and reporter Jenelle Riley, who reports it for Variety magazine.
Q) I heard this film was shot in a unique way.
“It was unusual. Most scenes are done in one shot, these long, unbroken takes. And some were only shot once. Michel was editing in the same building where we did a lot of shooting, and he could literally go and watch it and then come back and tell us if we needed to adjust it or do it again. It gave us a real continuity.”
Q) You’ve played such a wide variety of roles. What do people most want to talk to you about?
“It’s always different. Frequently, it’s one that is more uncommon. For a while, there was a very specific demographic that would come up to talk about ‘The Dying Gaul.’ Sometimes, it was ‘Empire’ or “Orphan.” It’s interesting — I can sort of guess what film it will be when I see someone coming. The one thing I don’t like that I only get occasionally is ‘What movie do I know you from?’”
What is Memory (2023 Film)?
The 2023 drama film ‘Memory’ is a Mexican-American production written and directed by Michel Franco, who concluded its filming in May 2022 in New York.
In addition to Peter Sarsgaard as Saul, a dementia patient, and Jessica Chastain as Sylvia, a social worker, notable actors in supporting parts include Merritt Wever, Jessica Harper, Elsie Fisher, Brooke Timber, Josh Charles, and Tom Hammond as Robert.
The official description for ‘Memory’ in the film: “Social worker Sylvia’s structured life is blown apart when Saul follows her home from their high school reunion. Their surprise encounter profoundly impacts both of them as they open the door to the past.”
