Director Josh Safdie of the movie "Matias Supreme" talks about the ethics, identity, and cost of dreams of the arrogant protagonist.
Director Josh Safdie discusses the ethics, identity, and cost of dreams for the arrogant protagonist in his film, "Matias Supreme."Summary
The film "Matias Supreme: Grab the World" is a deeply personal project for director Josh Safdie, inspired by the autobiography of 1950s table tennis player Marty Reisman, discovered by his wife and producer, Sarah Roseman. Safdie, who grew up playing table tennis and shares a New York Jewish-American background with Reisman, created the protagonist, Marty Mauser, based on this inspiration. The story follows the young man in post-war 1952 New York who relentlessly pursues his dream of becoming the world table tennis champion, even resorting to crime. Safdie emphasizes the importance of knowing history, stating that without it, individuals and nations lose their way, suggesting the film reflects parallels between the post-war era and the present. The storytelling process with co-writer Ronald Bronstein was as unpredictable as Marty's life; Safdie focused on staying true to the character in the "now," prioritizing authenticity over structure to create a tension that keeps both the writers and the audience guessing about the next development.
(Source：Tokyo Art Beat)