© 2024 TIFF
Traffic: Cast Interview
By Sachiko Motomura
-How has your experience been with the Japanese audience, and how did they respond to the film?
Rares Andrici (Actor): It’s my first time in Japan and I like it very much. What surprised me was how reserved the audience was during the viewing – there were no visible reactions, but after the screening their enthusiasm was incredible. People were waiting outside for autographs.
-In “Traffic,” your character navigates complex moral landscapes. How did you approach and prepare to bring this character to life?
Rares Andrici (Actor): Ita is a bad guy in many ways, and a morally ambiguous character. To portray him, I focused on understanding the darker aspects of his psyche, such as his trauma and suffering. I wanted to empathize with and defend his actions, revealing the human side of his struggles.
-Does any aspect of Ita’s story resonate with your own life?
Rares Andrici (Actor): Yes, all of it. Ita’s experiences with poverty and violence deeply resonate with me. His fight to rise above his circumstances, even through morally questionable actions, is very relatable. It’s not inhuman to think or act that way when someone is desperate to overcome their destiny.
-The film addresses profound social issues. What message do you think it conveys?
Rares Andrici (Actor): In my view, the film highlights the cultural divide between Western and Eastern Europe. It explores the struggles of adapting to Western ways of life after the fall of communism in the East. For many in Eastern Europe, the shift required a complete reevaluation of personal and societal values. It’s a story of identity, adaptation, and the clash of cultures.
-Natalia takes leftover food while working as a waitress. How do you interpret this moral dilemma?
Rares Andrici (Actor): Natalia was trying to help her family. It raises an important moral question: is taking home leftover food stealing? Why throw away perfectly good food when it can help someone in need? This dilemma reflects the film’s broader themes about survival and ethical gray areas.
-How was the experience of collaborating on set with director Teodora Ana Mihai and writer Cristian Mungiu?
Rares Andrici (Actor): Teodora gave me a lot of creative freedom, which I really appreciated. Cristian is deeply passionate about exploring themes related to post-communist trauma in Romania and Eastern Europe. These topics are significant and often overlooked. While they’re not always welcomed by the Romanian public, I believe it’s the artist’s responsibility to address such issues to drive change.
Watch Video:
Traffic Trailer
https://youtu.be/7aZSCo4yAvM?si=TCFSRmXpecKKPR8k
Rares Andrici Opens Up About His Passion for the Role in ‘Traffic’ – Tokyo Film Festival 2024
https://youtu.be/ePCYKuBQsgY?si=9V7R-2vblxSrZ6ey
photo de la UNE : pixabay
