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How far can a writer’s superego go when diving into the creative process? A writer is hit by creative block and worries that his most famous character is no longer selling well and believes he finds his salvation when he is hired to write the script for a movie. Aly Muritiba’s Jesus Kid is a nightmarish comedy about a writer being forced to write what others’ want and an exploration of the existential relationship between author and character.
By Emanuelle Block
See the North American premiere of Jesus Kid on Friday September 24 @ 9:15 PM at Cinema Village (22 East 12th Street) as part of New York City’s 10th Annual Winter Film Awards International Film Festival. Tickets now on sale!
Winter Film Awards’ Emanuelle Block spoke with Aly Muritiba to talk about the film.
EB: Tell us about the evolution of this film?
AM: I was invited to make the film adaptation of this story, and I really wanted to make an auteur movie. It is a disturbed time in Brazil’s government, and I wanted the film to depict the political situation of the country, but also use comedy. I have wondered if the movie will speak to an international audience because it is a reflection about a fascist time in my country. It is a comedy, but I weave in political themes, like government censorship and the religious right.
EB: Did you work closely with the author of the original story, Lourenço Mutarelli?
AM: I did the adaptation alone because I needed to be free to add things that were important to me– mainly the way I incorporated political themes into the story. Politics is the most important motivation in my work. I want my audience to think and reflect about the political background in my stories.
EB: Throughout the film, you make references to the Coen brothers and their film Barton Fink. Do you think of Jesus Kid as an homage?
AM: I tried to make a movie that referenced some of my favorite filmmakers– the directors that I studied in school– American filmmakers whose work I love: the Coen brothers, Quentin Tarantino, Jim Jarmusch, Wes Anderson. These were big influences on me– they helped teach me the craft of filmmaking. It is my first comedy feature. I think it’s kind of mix between soap opera and pulp fiction.
EB: Does the concept of existentialism come into play in this film?
AM: It is a metalinguistic movie. It is a reflection about the aspect of creator and how hard it is for writers and directors and screenwriters to create words. When you’re talking about the word or the story, you’re talking about yourself. The actor creates the character, and, at the same time, he is trying to realize something that is impossible. The author’s superego can do things that he cannot do himself. The film is about the creative process, and how the act of creating is hard and fun and pleasurable, all at the same time.
Emanuelle Block
Emanuelle Block is a media professional with a background in television, radio, advertising, publicity, public relations, and event production.
About Winter Film Awards
New York City’s 10th Annual Winter Film Awards International Film Festival runs September 23-October 2 2021. Check out a jam-packed lineup of 91 fantastic films in all genres from 28 countries, including shorts, features, Animation, Drama, Comedy, Thriller, Horror, Documentary and Music Video. Hollywood might ignore women and people of color, but Winter Film Awards celebrates everyone!
Winter Film Awards is an all volunteer, minority- and women-owned registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization founded in 2011 in New York City by a group of filmmakers and enthusiasts. The program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council and the NY State Council on the Arts.
