The film depicts the love story of Rachel Ziegler and Ansel Elgort between Maria and Tony, whose fateful romance sparks a bitter rivalry between the local New York street gang Sharks and the Jets.
Filmmaker Steven Spielberg says he had to be fearless to be able to make “West Side Story,” which re-imagines the beloved Broadway musical of the same name, and credits the films he called “courage”. Made to give.
An adaptation of the famous 1957 Broadway musical of the same title, the film depicts Rachel Ziegler and Ansel Elgort’s love story between Maria and Tony, whose fateful romance fans the bitter rivalry between the local New York street gang Sharks and the Jets.
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The stage musical also saw a film adaptation in 1961, directed by Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins.
In a 10-minute video shared by 20th Century Studios India’s YouTube page, the legendary filmmaker engaged in a virtual conversation with Bollywood director Shoojit Sircar, who performed the play during his theater days.
Sarkar, known for films like “Piku”, “October” and “Sardar Udham”, said Spielberg has become more “fearless” now and for this the 74-year-old director said he will have to do his best to make his film. The first feature-length musical.
“I think everyone, when they grow up, becomes more fearless. Maybe not everyone, but I definitely need to be fearless to take it. Because it’s obviously based on the great Broadway musical but it will be compared liberally to the 1961 film. Both the 1961 film and the Broadway musical owe a great debt of gratitude to William Shakespeare and Romeo and Juliet.”
“So I didn’t feel like I was violating anything because I really don’t like the remake. But I didn’t consider it a remake. I consider it a newer, more authentic and more contemporary version of the original music,” Spielberg said.
The filmmaker dubbed the Broadway show as “arguably the greatest American musical” and said that even though it has been remade countless times around the world – onscreen and on stage – every interpretation is different.
“I realized that since it is reproduced so liberally over and over again, each new artist brings a different interpretation. They can say the same lines, because they by contract say the same lines that were originally from the 1950s. decade, but he is able to interpret those lines in a new, modern way.
“I didn’t feel like I was violating the great classic that the original ‘West Side Story’ movie was about by telling this 2021 version of the 1957 story.” The film is written by Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winner Tony Kushner.
Spielberg said that although he had never attempted music before, the genre was always close to his heart.
The original musical, inspired by William Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet, was conceived by Jerome Robbins, with music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and a book by Arthur Laurents.
“I just needed ‘West Side Story’ to do a musical. I don’t think there’s any other musical I would have done other than that because it’s been as relevant in my life as my parents did on the original Broadway cast album.” Bought when I was 10 years old…
“I’m banking my courage, every film I make gives me a little more courage until I can finally question… and be able to re-imagine the work of those four geniuses.” Ho – Robbins, Bernstein, Sondheim and Laurents,” he said.
During the conversation, Sarkar observed how the film featured a talented Hispanic and Latino community, noting that it was a “big statement” by the producer in a time of “xenophobia and racism”.
Spielberg said it is important to him that the film authentically represents the Latinx community.
“There isn’t a single Puerto Rican character that isn’t played by a Latin X performing artist. In fact, 50 of our cast members are either Puerto Rican, or of Puerto Rican descent, including Rita Moreno and Ariana DeBos and Josh ( Andres Rivera), who plays Chino.
“So we had 50 actors who had never made a film before. It was really amazing to have that potential.” He stressed that with “West Side Story,” the team intended to interact directly with the younger generation. And hopefully the youth will lead the change that the world desperately needs today.
“It is a direct conversation and dialogue with young people around the world today. I also think that this generation is going to determine the fate of all of us. And it is how they are affected and what affects them.
“If they can start a conversation with people who are different from them, if someday xenophobia can be in our rearview mirror and not in our current vernacular … all this accomplished by many new generations of young going. People who really care about each other. If empathy keeps dying, everything dies with it, including democracy. I really think the secret element in all of this is to find empathy Or trying to find it again,” he said.
The film will release in Indian cinemas on December 10.
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