“American Pastoral” follows a family’s idyllic existence that was
shattered by social and political turmoil that will change the fabric of
American culture forever. Ewan McGregor makes his directorial debut and
stars as Seymour “Swede” Levov, a once legendary high school athlete
who is now a successful businessman married to Dawn (Jennifer Connelly),
a former beauty queen. But turmoil brews beneath the polished veneer of
Swede’s life. When his beloved daughter, Merry (Dakota Fanning),
disappears after being accused of committing a violent act, Swede
dedicates himself to finding her and reuniting his family. What he
discovers shakes him to the core, forcing him to look beneath the
surface and confront the chaos that is shaping the modern world around
him.
Lakeshore Entertainment producer Gary Lucchesi reflects on what drove
him to stay on course throughout the long but steadfast creative
process: “I have always wanted to make a father daughter story. I read
the script, I cried, and I knew I had to make the movie one way or
another,” he recalls. “I saw in it the story of a man who has an
uncompromising love for his daughter through thick and thin. I love
dramas about human beings that you can relate to and experiences that
you can imagine. That’s what really turns me on as a filmmaker. Every
now and then, you get a chance to do something like this that you
covet—so you give it everything you have.”
Ewan McGregor, known for his wide-ranging roles in films spanning from
the innovative and edgy “Trainspotting 1 & 2”, “Velvet Goldmine” and
“Moulin Rouge” to the acclaimed dramas “Ghost Writer” and “Salmon
Fishing in the Yemen” -- was attached to play the central character of
the Swede in American Pastoral long before signing on to direct the
film.
McGregor knew this was a rare opportunity. Ultimately, it was his love of the material that led to his decision to take a leap into his feature film directorial debut. “I was very moved by the script and I was completely taken by the Swede and the study of father daughter relationships,” he says. “I’ve always wanted to direct, but I didn’t want to just direct for the sake of it. I wanted to have a story that I was compelled to tell,” McGregor explains.
An Ayala Malls Cinemas’ exclusive presentation, “American Pastoral” opens on April 5 at Glorietta 4 and Trinoma cinemas.
Please see the Trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=079zFCh81L4&index=1&list=PLJ7A97yl9oXrDVG8xuBZnkakEg71WnB86
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