Viggo Mortensen's Family Inspired 'Falling' Even Though It's '99.9% Fiction' (Video)

Sundance 2020: “My brothers, to whom it’s dedicated to, would recognize certain dynamics, a few phrases, a couple of events,” the actor says

Viggo Mortensen turned to directing for the first time in his career with “Falling,” and though his fictional story is set firmly in a polarized America, it should resonate deeply with his family.

Mortensen dedicated “Falling” to his brothers, and though the characters in the film are not explicitly playing his father or the rest of his family, they would recognize the feelings and ideas Mortensen embedded within it.

“My brothers, to whom it’s dedicated to, would recognize certain dynamics, a few phrases, a couple of events. But it’s 99.9% fiction, but they would recognize the feelings behind it,” he told TheWrap’s Steve Pond at Sundance. “What stimulated me to write the story has a lot to do with how I feel about my parents.”

“Falling” is the story of a conservative, aging old man who is moved from his rural farm in the country to stay with his gay son’s family in Los Angeles. The film was the closing night movie at the Sundance Film Festival, and Mortensen was joined by some of the cast of the film, including Sverrir Gudnason, Terry Chen, Hannah Gross, Bracken Burns and Lance Henricksen.

“It’s not just my family that influenced me, it also influenced me what I feel like is happening in our society now in recent years, the polarization, the inability that people have, or unwillingness to communicate, and how do you deal with what you see and hear: hateful language, misogyny, racism, homophobia, these things come up,” Mortensen said. “I was writing the script about our country, even within families are polarized, they voted for so and so, or the other one refused to, so they can’t talk all of a sudden now. Well, eventually you’re going to have to.”

The man who plays Mortensen’s father in the film — and is forced to say some awful, hateful and misogynist things — is Lance Henricksen, and it wasn’t an easy role to play.

“It actually hurts when I have to say those things,” Henricksen said of his character’s identity crisis in 2020. “All of that pain that’s coming out through that language and through that point of view and all of that is because somebody knows the cards are shuffling. You don’t know what to be anymore.”

Check out the interview clip with the cast from “Falling” above.

Sundance Portraits From A to Z: Andy Samberg to Zazie Beetz (Exclusive Photos)

  • Glenn Close, “Four Good Days” 

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Mila Kunis, “Four Good Days” 

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Writer-director Rodrigo Garcia, “Four Good Days”  

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Actress Toni Collette, “Dream Horse” 

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Director Euros Lyn, “Dream Horse” 

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Sienna Miller, “Wander Darkly” 

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Diego Luna, “Wander Darkly”

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Director Ron Howard, “Rebuilding Paradise” 

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Alison Brie, “Horse Girl”

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Jeff Baena, “Horse Girl”

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Steven Yeun, “Minari”

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Yuh-Jung Youn, “Minari” 

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Yeri Han, “Minari” 

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Writer-director Lee Isaac Chung, “Minari”

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Kelly Rowland, “Bad Hair”

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Ashley Blaine Featherson, “Bad Hair”

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • James Van Der Beek, “Bad Hair”

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Yaani King Mondschein, “Bad Hair”

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Elle Lorraine, “Bad Hair” 

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Director Justin Simien, “Bad Hair” 

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Subject (and former fiancée of Jamal Khashoggi) Hatice Cengiz, “The Dissident” 

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Director Bryan Fogel, “The Dissident” 

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Andy Samberg, “Palm Springs” 

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Cristin Milioti, “Palm Springs”

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Andy Samberg and Cristin Milioti, “Palm Springs” 

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Writer Andy Siara, “Palm Springs” 

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Joe Keery, “Spree” 

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • John DeLuca, “Spree”

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • David Arquette, Sasheer Zamata, director Eugene Kotlyarenko, John DeLuca, and Joe Keery, ” Spree”

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Peter Macdissi, Paul Bettany, director Alan Ball and Sophia Lillis, “Uncle Frank”

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Writer-director Alan Ball, “Uncle Frank”

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Actor Paul Bettany, “Uncle Frank”

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Actress Sophia Lillis, “Uncle Frank”

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Actor Peter Macdissi, “Uncle Frank”

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Rachel Brosnahan, “Ironbark”

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Director Dominic Cooke, actors Rachel Brosnahan and Merab Ninidze, “Ironbark” 

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Wilmer Valderrama, “Blast Beat”

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Diane Guerrero, “Blast Beat”

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Actor Moises Arias, “Blast Beat”

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Actress Kali Uchis, “Blast Beat”

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Daniel Dae Kim, “Blast Beat”

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Actor Mateo Arias, “Blast Beat”

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Esteban Arango, “Blast Beat”

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • ACLU lawyer Lee Gelernt, “The Fight” 

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • ACLU lawyer Brigitte Amiri, “The Fight” 

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Producers Kerry Washington and Eli Despres, filmmakers Josh Kriegman and Elyse Steinberg, and lawyers Lee Gelernt and Brigitte Amiri, “The Fight” 

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Winston Duke, “Nine Days”

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Bill Skarsgård, “Nine Days”

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Zazie Beetz, “Nine Days”

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Benedict Wong, “Nine Days”

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Arianna Ortiz, “Nine Days”

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • David Rysdahl, “Nine Days”

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Writer-director Edson Oda, “Nine days”

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Sil Lai Abrams, Drew Dixon, and Sherri Hines, “On the Record”

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Gloria Steinem, “The Glorias”

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Director Julie Taymor, “The Glorias”

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Actor Harvey Guillén, “What We Do in the Shadows”

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Christopher Abbott, “Possessor” 

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Brandon Cronenberg, “Possessor” 

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Agnes Gund, “Aggie” 

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Director Catherine Gund, “Aggie” 

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine, “Farewell Amor”

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Zainab Jah, “Farewell Amor” 

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Jayme Lawson, “Farewell Amor” 

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Musicians Charlotte Caffey, Jane Wiedlin, Gina Schock, TheWrap’s Steve Pond, Belinda Carlisle and Kathy Valentine, “The Go Go’s” 

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • The Go Go’s and director Alison Ellwood

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Actor John Reynolds, “Save Yourselves”  

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Actor Sunita Mani, “Save Yourselves” 

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Directors Alex Huston Fischer and Eleanor Wilson, “Save Yourselves” 

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Alec Baldwin, “Beast Beast”

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Jose Angeles, Will Madden, and Shirley Chen, “Beast Beast” 

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Director Bao Nguyen, “Be Water” 

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Producer Julie Nottingham, “Be Water” 

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Director Lana Wilson, “Taylor Swift: Miss Americana” 

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Producers Christine O’Malley, Morgan Neville and Caitrin Rogers, “Taylor Swift: Miss Americana” 

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Producer Jessica Hargrave and director-producer Ryan White, “Assassins” 

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Actress Carey Mulligan and writer-director Emerald Fennell, “Promising Young Woman” 

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Director Maïmouna Doucouré and producer Zangro, “Cuties” 

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

     

  • Charlie Shotwell, Jude Law, and Oona Roche, “The Nest”

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Actress Devin France, “Wendy” 

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Elisabeth Moss, “Shirley” 

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Michael Stuhlbarg, “Shirley” 

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Director Josephine Decker, “Shirley” 

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Actor Logan Lerman, “Shirley” 

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Writer-Executive Producer Brian Lazarte, “McMillions” 

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Writer-Director James Lee Hernandez, “McMillions” 

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Julia Garner, “The Assistant” 

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Kitty Green, “The Assistant” 

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Marquise Vilson, director Sam Feder and Amy Scholder, “Disclosure” 

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Zeke Smith, Zackary Drucker and Jen Richards, “Disclosure” 

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Rebecca Hall, “The Night House” 

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Director David Bruckner, “The Night House” 

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Stacy Martin, “The Night House” 

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Jahi Di’Allo Winston, Angel Manuel Soto, Caleeb Pinkett, Sherman Payne, and Will Catlett, “Charm City Kings” 

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

     

  • Actor Wagner Moura, “Sergio” 

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Brent Travers and Daniel Marc Dreifuss, “Sergio”   

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Director Greg Barker, “Sergio” 

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Annie Clark and Carrie Brownstein, “The Nowhere Inn” 

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Actor Pilou Asbæk, “Run Sweetheart Run” 

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Ella Balinska, “Run Sweetheart Run” 

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Pilou Asbæk, director Shana Feste and Ella Balinska, “Run Sweetheart Run” 

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Emily Mortimer, “Relic” 

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Director Patricia Vidal Delgado, “La Leyenda Negra” 

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Actress Monica Betancourt, “La Leyenda Negra” 

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Actor-writer-director Viggo Mortensen, “Falling” 

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Lance Henriksen, “Falling” 

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Laurent Bouzereau and Natasha Gregson Wagner, “Natalie Wood: What Remains Behind” 

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Producer Stacey Reiss, “Spaceship Earth” 

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Producer Mark Nelson, “Spaceship Earth”  

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Director Matt Wolf, “Spaceship Earth” 

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Subject Linda Leigh, “Spaceship Earth” 

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Director Marina Zenovich, “Lance” 

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Andrea Riseborough, “Possessor” and Luxor” 

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Karim Saleh, “Luxor” 

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Director Brenda Chapman, “Come Away” 

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

  • Aubrey Plaza, “Black Bear”

    Photographed by Shayan Asgharnia for TheWrap

Sundance 2020: Stars like Glenn Close, Kerry Washington and Bill Skarsgard stop by TheWrap Studio presented by Heineken at the Pando Art Gallery

Source: Read Full Article