argento at cinequest 2000

An interview with Dario Argento by Derek Botelho.

This interview took place on March 03rd 2000 at the San Jose Film Festival.

When you sit down to write what inspires you? Anything personal?

"No, nothing personal, but my dreams, my nightmares come, my thinking when I was a child I had illusions something there, in this part of my soul (puts hand on his heart). Maybe by a newspaper article something that happened in the world."

I read somewhere that 'TENEBRE' came about because of a personal experience of yours where a fan was harassing you and he was ultimately threatening to kill you, is this true?

"Yes, but it's not the story of Peter Neal. He wanted to persecute me, he considered me to be the corruptor. It inspired me. He said you write this story you are a criminal, these people are twisted (a big laugh)."

Your first films were giallo, what made you divert from that formula and make the supernatural films? ('SUSPIRIA' and 'INFERNO')

"I wanted a new experience. It was like a cul de sac, you know? (Illustrates the shape of a cul de sac with his hands) I wanted something new, the supernatural. The witch, the sorcerer, I love this. I love the films of the witch and sorcerers and magic, it's wonderful they can do anything. It's free, you can invent anything, you can change the natural the power is enormous. And I love the mystery."

What kinds of movies do you like to watch?

"I like to watch many things especially strange and something recent, not just the story. I don't like films for money, no this kind of film I don't like. I like films to have something inside, I don't mean a message, I mean something from the soul. It has to be important to the director. For my brain, and my mind it has to speak."

The underwater sequence in 'INFERNO', did Mario Bava do the FX?

"No, he did some for the end, some scenes of fire and background for the city."

So you did direct the entire film yourself?

"Yes, Lamberto Bava, Mario's son was my assistant and Mario helped us and he died soon after, he was a great friend of mine."

Will you work with Asia in the near future?

"No, not the new film, it's been a long time but I have a male lead there are only a few female characters."

The new film, I have read is called 'I CAN'T SLEEP', what can you tell me about it? Will it be another giallo?

"Yes, it's similar to 'DEEP RED'."

If there was anything you would change about your films what would it be?

"Nothing, I never think about this. They are good."

What are your views on the proposed remake of 'SUSPIRIA'?

"I heard, I hope to send a message: I don't agree, I absolutely don't agree. If I hear somebody wants to do this I say 'NO'. The movie was good for it's time, the actors, the music everything. It is impossible to change, it's not Coca Cola, no, every bottle is similar. And also somebody, I think it's Columbia wanted to remake 'DEEP RED' and I hope not!"

[interviste]

[top of page]