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Spanish actors Penélope Cruz and Javier Bardem attended the Venice Film Festival to promote their latest collaboration, “Bunker,” a film directed by Florian Zeller that explores contemporary societal concerns. The couple, known for their willingness to address political matters publicly, discussed why remaining silent on such issues would undermine their work in cinema that directly engages with current global challenges.
During the press conference, Cruz emphasized that refusing to discuss politics while starring in a film centered on timely themes would represent a fundamental contradiction. She noted that the movie addresses numerous pressing concerns affecting current and future generations, making political silence untenable for the actors involved. Bardem similarly stressed that individuals across all professions possess the right to express their perspectives, though he acknowledged that public figures carry additional responsibility due to their platform and influence.
“Bunker” depicts a married couple experiencing relationship strain after the husband, an architect, accepts a controversial commission to construct a survivalist bunker for a technology entrepreneur. The film also features actors Paul Dano, Patrick Schwarzenegger, and Stephen Graham. Director Zeller drew inspiration from Stanley Kubrick’s “Eyes Wide Shut,” seeking to explore the ambiguity between fiction and reality by casting a real-life couple in the lead roles, marking their first portrayal of long-term spouses despite numerous previous collaborations.
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Originally reported by Variety →
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