Venice 2022, Casey Affleck: “Dreamin ‘Wild is a film about second chances”

“I was enchanted by this story, this family and their music. And I decided to make the film.” This is how director Bill Pohlad tells what prompted him to bring to the big screen with ‘Dreamin’ Wild ‘- out of competition today at the Venice Film Festival – the story of Donnie and Joe Emerson’s 1979 album of the same name, which did not have commercial success until 2008, when a record collector found it in an antique shop in Spokane, Washington, giving life to a rediscovery of the songs and the duo who had created them. The film, set on the Emerson family’s real farm in rural Fruitland, Washington, tells of Donnie Emerson’s childhood dream – musical success – which comes true thirty years later, as the artist approaches. at fifty. On the one hand there is the second chance, on the other hand the complications that fame brings with it. In the role of the protagonist Donnie, there is Casey Affleck, who was able to meet the real Donnie: “He didn’t want to stay too long on the set. He had confused feelings about the whole project. Before filming, Bill (the director, ed.) There suggested spending time with them. And that influenced the way we described them in the film: they were really generous and Donnie told us he would accept whatever way we chose to represent them. The film is a story of redemption of Donnie and his family, who had trusted him. In my life I have had so many ups and downs and it was nice to bring this personal experience into the character, “says the actor, sorry for not being able to attend the world premiere screening of ‘Blonde’ by Adrew Dominik, with whom he brought to Venice ‘The murder of Jesse James by the coward Robert Ford’. “I’m sorry but I have to leave. But I always like to come to the Venice exhibition: it’s one of my favorite places. But I’ve never been asked to be part of any jury and I don’t understand why”, he smiles. To play Donnie’s brother Joe is Walton Goggins: “I think the magic of this film is the magic of this story. It is a reflection on fame, success, passion for music. a catharsis, a relief, when in the end it was proved that the two brothers were right. We are proud to have interpreted this story so courageous about success. “Beau Bridges is instead Donnie’s father, Don Sr .:” During the film it is became a close friend. His figure inspired me. He is 91 years old and still drives his truck and taught me too. They are a beautiful family. And I think their farm, with the recording studio, is one of the characters of the movie, “says Bridges. While the director points out that “all the exteriors were shot on their real farm,” the director points out. Also in the cast is Zooey Deschanel, who plays Donnie’s wife, and Noah Jupe and Jack Dylan Grazer, who are the two brothers when they were young. “Donnie Emerson’s story intertwines love, loyalty, second chances and the chance to see your dreams come true. At the same time it’s also a story of pain, regret and the complications that dreams can bring with them,” concludes the director.