‘Dreams’ Interview: Jessica Chastain, Michel Franco and More

Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Jessica Chastain, Isaac Hernández and director Michel Franco about their work on ‘Dreams’, why Franco wanted to make the movie, the actors’ first reaction to the screenplay, their characters’ relationship, working together, and why Franco cast Hernández.

Related Article: Jessica Chastain and Peter Sarsgaard Talk Working Together In ‘Memory’

(L to R) Isaac Hernández and Jessica Chastain star in ‘Dreams’. Photo: Greenwich Entertainment.

Moviefone: To begin with, Michel, can you talk about developing the screenplay and as a filmmaker, what did you want to say with this movie?

Michel Franco: I had this idea for many years and when Jessica and I were shooting our previous movie called ‘Memory’, even though we hadn’t finished shooting, I knew I wanted to work with her again and I was thinking of all the ideas. I was thinking of what sounded, timely and interesting. That was about four years ago. So, I pitched this to Jessica on a lunch break. She immediately said, “Yes. It sounds so different to what we’re doing now.” Then I went away to write the script and I was interested in two things. The intimate story between the Isaac’s character and Jessica’s character. He’s a Mexican that crosses the border illegally to pursue his dancing dreams and to be with her because they love each other. But then I wanted to show that her character is challenged by reality when he shows up unannounced in the States, because she had a double life. One in Mexico, and one in San Francisco. So that’s what I was into exploring and then I think there’s a lot for the audience to also find in the film regarding their relationship between the two countries.

Jessica Chastain stars in ‘Dreams’. Photo: Greenwich Entertainment.

MF: Jessica, can you talk about your first reaction to Michel’s screenplay and why you wanted to go on this cinematic journey with him?

Jessica Chastain: I loved it. When he sent it to me, my response was, “It’s perfect.” I loved it. It was so different from ‘Memory’. Jennifer was such a thorny, complex character that I haven’t really gotten to explore before. I loved this idea that she’s a philanthropist, but also is a perpetrator of violence at the same time, and that those things aren’t mutually exclusive. It was saying a lot of things about where we were. I just saw a way in, and I wanted to stretch myself and I knew I could do a good job. I mean, I hoped I could do it good job.

Isaac Hernández stars in ‘Dreams’. Photo: Greenwich Entertainment.

MF: Isaac, can you talk about your first reaction to the screenplay, and did you understand and relate to the character immediately?

Isaac Hernández: Well, the first approach was at an after party in Mexico City. I organized a festival there. My sister is friends with Michel. She invited him to watch the show. Michel thought that me addressing the audience before the show was kind of the moment where he decided that I could do this role, and then we met at the after party. He gave me the outline of the character. He didn’t promise anything. He said, “I have this story. It would be great, if you’re interested, if I could send you the script in a few months.” Six months or so passed and I get this amazing script and my first thought was, what an incredible story. I don’t know if I can do this. Immediately I started thinking about what it would be like to portray a character so complex. I obviously thought of my mom. For some reason, I thought, what is my mom going to say when she sees me do some of these things as a character? Then I was still attracted by the possibility of being able to tell such an important story and bring dance into a movie. I found out that I would be able to work with someone like Jessica and that just made everything so exciting. I had to be a part of it in a sense. I couldn’t deny myself the opportunity to try a role like this, to challenge myself artistically with a story so complex, and to have the privilege in this life to be able to be on a set with such masters of their crafts and be able to be supported and invited. It felt like a privilege.

Isaac Hernández stars in ‘Dreams’. Photo: Greenwich Entertainment.

MF: Michel, can you talk about discovering Isaac and why he was the right actor for this role?

MF: I knew I needed someone special. If that makes sense? Not just an actor, but someone that would bring more to the film. I don’t know how to explain, but Isaac has a whole world of his own because of the ballet, but also because of his personality and the fact that he’s not an actor. He’s not an actor, he’s more of a dancer, and I thought this would bring something very fresh to the film. Of course, it was a bit of a gamble. I remembered first Jessica saying, “Why do you think he can do it if he pretty much hasn’t acted before?” I just knew that this would make a very special film and I think I was right. The ballet makes the movie very special. Every immigrant is doing so much for the States, but the dreams that this character is pursuing somehow elevates the beauty of the film. So that was why I decided to work with him. He’s like a national treasurer to us. We’re all very proud of Isaac Hernández.

(L to R) Isaac Hernández and Jessica Chastain star in ‘Dreams’. Photo: Greenwich Entertainment.

MF: Jessica, can you talk about the relationship between these two characters and creating that relationship on screen with Isaac?

JS: We didn’t talk much when we were shooting. I think we had one dinner with Michel, but we really stuck to our lanes. Then Isaac told me afterwards that he didn’t want to speak to me because he was afraid of messing up. But it is true what Michel said in terms of, at the very beginning I was quite doubtful, I was very nervous when I read the script. I said to him, “These characters are really going up against each other and I’m going to bring a strong energy, so I need someone to meet that energy and not fold.” Michel was like, “I have a feeling it’s going to be okay,” and he was right. But I was nervous. To be honest, I was nervous up until our first day filming. Then I remember I went to Michel at a break, and I was like, “Oh, he’s great. You were right. He can withstand it.”

(L to R) Isaac Hernández and Jessica Chastain star in ‘Dreams’. Photo: Greenwich Entertainment.

MF: Finally, Isaac, what was it like working opposite Jessica and do you feel like you rose to the challenge?

IH: I mean, it’s not easy to show up to work. We met, I think, a few days before the first day of shooting at a restaurant and then showing up and we shot an intimate scene in a small room. Michel was giving Jessica one direction, and giving me completely the opposite one, and at some point, I didn’t know what to do. Do I give in to what she’s giving me right now or do I fire it back at her? I chose to fight her off and kind of stick to what Michel had directed me to do. It was amazing. At the end, I was able to do it because of the generosity that Jessica gave me and the support that Michel was giving me. I was able to trust the moment and be able to be present and really understand and listen to what the scene was creating. I related it immediately with working with a great ballerina, for example. You really feed on each other and if you’re able to listen to and be generous enough to wait for your colleague’s proposal, then something magical can happen. I felt so many times on the set that we were creating something that felt unique and true. So, it was wonderful. I was completely nervous, obviously. That’s why Jessica said she didn’t know if we would become friends during the filming, because maybe I would not be able to shoot the ending of the movie or maybe I would say something that would change the dynamics that we had and what the movie required. That made me nervous, and I would call Michel once a week and say, “How’s it going? He would say, “You’re doing great. Don’t change anything,” which is harder almost to then freeze your yourself on set for that time being, but it proved to be an extraordinary experience.

‘Dreams’ opens in theaters on February 27th.

What is the plot of ‘Dreams’?

A powerful socialite (Jessica Chastain) and a promising ballet dancer (Isaac Hernández) begin a dangerous affair. When he secretly crosses the US-Mexico border, she takes desperate measures to protect their future together.

Who is in the cast of ‘Dreams’?

• Jessica Chastain as Jennifer McCarthy
• Isaac Hernández as Fernando Rodriguez
• Rupert Friend as Jake McCarthy
• Marshall Bell as Michael McCarthy
• Eligio Meléndez as Fernando’s Father
• Mercedes Hernández as Fernando’s Mother

Jessica Chastain stars in ‘Dreams’. Photo: Greenwich Entertainment.

List of Jessica Chastain Movies:

Buy Tickets: ‘Dreams’ Movie Showtimes

Buy Jessica Chastain Movies on Amazon