The duty villain of Indiana Jones, Star Wars, Hannibal, Casino Royale or Legendary Animals also filmed in Budapest (the movie Dust Bunny), and his latest film, The Bastard, is already playing in Hungarian cinemas. However, Mads Mikkelsen, who turned out not to like modern political messages in historical films, spoke to Nők Lapja Café in Venice.
According to Mikkelsen, he did not have time to enjoy Budapest during the time he was in the Hungarian capital. "We worked hard, the schedule was tight, but of course I saw and appreciated that it was a beautiful place. My complete recreation consisted of going to the zoo once," he said in the interview.
"I don't approach a film as if I necessarily want to change it, but it is possible that I will have suggestions, and I like to work with people who are open to my opinion. Together we have more ideas and we can make a better film," he answered the question to what extent he participates in the production of each cinema.
The Danish star also stated: despite the fact that he likes to participate in several aspects of filmmaking, he has no directorial ambitions.
Regarding the bastard, Mikkelsen said: the film tells a beautiful story, with complex, exciting characters, with whom it is easy to empathize. "From the very beginning, I was very interested in who would play the other characters, because the story is populated by incredible characters," he said.
The protagonists of the story existed in reality, but the story written around them is largely fiction. "I love history, I deal with it a lot, but I wouldn't say that I'm an expert on any era. It's no exaggeration to say I'm a history freak. If I feel it makes sense for my character, I dig deep into that era. However, I don't choose films based on the historical period in which they take place. The story and the characters matter, since the era only provides the background for the story," Mikkelsen said about his relationship with history.
The Danish actor is dissatisfied with the fact that "the majority of films treat the question of historical fidelity very loosely".
"I have no problem with reasonable compromises. We strive to stay true to history as much as possible, but it's always the characters and the story that are really important," he emphasized.
"Unfortunately, a lot of people don't know history, that's why we're where we are," he added, emphasizing that the era only provides the frame for the film, and for him, what's inside the frame is the most important.
"I hate it, it completely freaks me out when a historical film is actually about today's problems in a historical guise. It's fine if there is a connection between the era depicted and the world today, because it can be interesting to marvel at the parallels, but if a film is made with the intention of presenting today's political debates and social problems embedded in a historical context, for me at the very bottom. I miss this so much. Stand on a platform and trumpet to the world what you think about politics, but please don't make a historical film about it!” Mikkelsen said what he thinks about the films' current political messages.
Cover image: Mads Mikkelsen in Indiana Jones and the Wheel of Fortune
Source: IMDb/Jonathan Olley/Lucasfilm Ltd.
