“The Bunker” starring Bardem and Cruz screened at Venice

Academy Award-winning director Florian Zeller, known for his work on “The Father,” has debuted his latest feature, “The Bunker,” at the Venice Film Festival. The film features real-life couple Javier Bardem and Penélope Cruz in the leading roles.

The narrative follows Miguel, an architect commissioned to design a high-end bunker for a billionaire preparing for a potential global catastrophe. The lucrative, albeit ethically questionable, job begins to strain Miguel’s 17-year marriage to his wife, Sofia.

Zeller drew inspiration for this psychological drama after reading reports about Mark Zuckerberg’s bunker construction in Hawaii several years ago.

“I found myself wondering, does he know something we don’t? I was struck by the irony: a man who built his fortune on connecting people has decided to insulate himself from the rest of the world. Perhaps it reflects a broader trend of us all drifting apart,”

— the director remarked during the press conference.

Zeller stated that he envisioned Bardem and Cruz for the parts from the very beginning, believing that their long-standing partnership would infuse the characters with authentic depth. Bardem, however, was quick to clarify that their on-screen dynamic bears little resemblance to their private lives.

“We are experts at separating our professional lives from our personal ones; otherwise, we wouldn’t survive. And, of course, we never, ever argue,”

— the actor joked.

Cruz added that the couple maintains a careful equilibrium when discussing work at home.

“Naturally, when we are collaborating on a project, we discuss it extensively. But that’s a rare occurrence, as so many scripts simply don’t resonate with us. Working with Florian felt different; we knew immediately that this project was meant for us. He didn’t ask us to replicate our actual lives, but rather to draw upon our collective experiences,”

— the actress noted.

The ensemble cast also includes Paul Dano, Stephen Graham, and Patrick Schwarzenegger. “The Bunker” is slated for a Russian release through the distributor Exponenta.

Photo: Getty

Source: Film.ru