In an exclusive roundtable interview with actors Dar Salim and Jake Gyllenhaal, the pair discussed their latest film, the war epic “The Covenant.” Gyllenhaal, an Oscar-nominated Hollywood heavyweight, is renowned for his acting process, which he claims involves relinquishing control to the director and servicing the story they see.
Salim and Gyllenhaal discuss their camaraderie and working relationship and how they both saw director Guy Ritchie’s vision of a big film with a true emotional core. The action adventure tells the true-life story of US sergeant John Kinley (played by Gyllenhaal), who is rescued from Taliban forces in Afghanistan by his interpreter Ahmed (Salim).
The story follows the bond between the two men, who go to great lengths to protect each other against all odds. Both actors deny that the film feeds into dominant narratives of American exceptionalism or glosses over the harsh realities of war and brutality. They describe the film as a parable about what a human being is owed and their reluctant commitment to someone else.
“The Covenant” has its heart in it, with relatable characters and a mirror of cultural differences that reflect a true emotional core.
Saturday, September 7, 2024