Actor Brad Pitt smiles during a news conference for the film "Babel" at the Toronto International Film Festival in Toronto, Sunday Sept. 10, 2006. (CP PHOTO/Adrian Wyld)
TORONTO – Perched up onstage alongside director Alejandro González Iñárritu, and costars Adriana Barraza, Rinko Kikuchi and Kôji Yakusho, one of the most photographed faces in the world gave his trademark smile, before saying: "Being part of an ensemble is always more fun."
In town for the North American premiere of his Cannes-winning "Babel," the suit-clad Pitt, spent almost an hour gushing over the experience he had filming his segment for Iñárritu’s globe-trotting drama about fractured lives and shattered families, calling the film "one of the best decisions of my film career."
Intersecting three stories, which take place in Morocco, Tunisia, Japan, California and Mexico, Iñárritu crafts his most emotionally intricate tale yet, following the lives of an American couple wounded by a stray bullet while in Africa (played by Pitt and Cate Blanchett), their nanny, who takes their children to her son’s wedding in Mexico (played by Barraza), and a grief-stricken Japanese father and daughter.
"I think this film is about intimate stories," Iñárritu said, before adding: "It’s about borders. Not physical ones, but the ones within ourselves."
With the African scenes shot largely with non-professional actors, Iñárritu said in some ways "Babel" was the most difficult film he’d shot. "There were no distractions. No campers. No nothing. We were under tough conditions."
"It was challenging. Without Brad and Cate’s patience, I never would have survived," he went on to say.
Looking glowingly at Ms. Kikuchi, Iñárritu sang the praises of his other actors, lauding the young Japanese actress’ decision to learn sign language so she could play the part of deaf Chieko.
"To see the thing put together," Pitt commented, "was an excitement I don’t always get."
Calling Iñárritu’s combination of actors and non-actors "fantastic" he added: "To go into a foreign land was a fantastic setup."
"It speaks beyond America. That’s what drew me to it."
Saying that his time in U.S. has definitely shaped his story-telling perspective, the Mexican-born Iñárritu admitted that had he not gained international acclaim with 2000’s "Amores perros" and instead stayed in Mexico City, the emotional buttons "Babel" provokes may never had come to light.
And for Pitt, that might have been a bad thing. "I consider myself a citizen of the world," he said thoughtfully. "I’m sitting here, listening to different languages and I find it exciting."
"(Having kids) Colours what I approach. (But) this one I’ll be very proud for them to see in the future."
"Babel" is in theatres November 17th.
This story was posted on Sun, September 10, 2006
