Gosia Dobrowolska talks to Paul Fischer about her latest
character of repressed sexuality.
Polish-born Aussie actress Gosia Dobrowolska is about to make
her debut on the big screen – that is, the REALLY big
screen, in 3D and Imax no less. With her frequent directorial
collaborator, Paul Cox, the beautiful star of Cox’s A
Woman’s Tale and his latest, Lust and Revenge, is starring
in the working titled House Guests, a film about the miniature
pests that live in every home, to be screened at Imax theatres
across America from May 1. "That’s what you call making
it big in America", she says laughingly.
"This is a very
gentle, sweet film." Gosia Dobrowolska
Appearing in a film in which you’re not only twice the
size of your normal movie image, but in 3D no less, was one of
the more challenging jobs in her lengthy career. "It was
incredibly technical", she explains. "The way you
shoot, there’s no coverage of a scene or anything. It’s
really tricky. I had to fly to Canada to audition, so that they
all knew my head would look OK in 3D." Fortunately, she
doesn’t have to do anything as sexy as in many of the pother
films she did for Paul Cox. "Oh no, this is a very gentle,
sweet film."
Which is a far cry from many of the other films the actress
has been seen in, mostly from individualistic director Cox. Their
latest, Lust and Revenge, is Cox’s most mainstream
film to date, a clever and at times uproariously funny satire on
the arts.
"You think that’s
how Cox sees me, huh"? Gosia Dobrowolska on playing a sexually repressed
character
Cecilia, (Dobrowolska) is deeper into new age out-of-body
experiences than the here-and-now chemistry of sex.
This is not the first time Dobrowolska has played a sexually
repressed character in a Cox film, a point which she finds
amusing. "You think that’s how Cox sees me, huh"?
she questions laughingly. But Cecilia is distinct from many of
the Cox women Dobrowolska has played.
"It fits in more
closely with his own, dark, sense of humour."
"Firstly, what makes THIS film unique, is that it’s
the first of his where you’re not expected to analyse any of
the characters. With his other films, you tend to get close to
their characters and their psyche, whereas this one satirises
various groups within society, and I think Cecilia represents all
those lost people who are looking for answers in the world."
Dobrowolska sees Lust and Revenge as being different from many of
Cox’s more recent films "because it fits in more
closely with his own, dark, sense of humour. It’s closer in
style to some of his early work."
It also contains appearances by most of the actors cast in Cox
films, such as Wendy Hughes, who received acclaim for two of
Cox’s best movies: Lonely Hearts and My First Wife.
"Like all of us, Wendy was very keen to be a part of this
film, but there were no female parts left." The solution to
this vexing casting problem? "She plays a man." And so
convincingly, that recognising her is an art form in itself.
"He’s one of the
few film makers in the world who believes that cinema is an
art form to be expressed." on Paul Cox
Adding a tinge of sadness to the film was the participation of
the late John Hargreaves, who had also previously worked with Cox
on My First Wife. "It was his last role. We knew he was ill,
and though he looked it at times, he covered it with a truly
brilliant performance. He inspired us all."
Dobrowolska hopes the film will find an audience, despite it
being released at a tough time and with minimal notice.
"It’s such a crowd pleaser. I was recently at a film
festival in India and the film was SO well received, it was
physically impossible for Paul and I to leave the cinema."
Cox’s films have never been huge box office hits, but the
actress believes that his films deserve to be seen. "He has
his audience and his admirers who truly love his work, and
he’s certainly a bigger success internationally than in
Australia." Yet Cox still refuses to be drawn to Hollywood.
"He has too much integrity. He’s one of the few film
makers in the world who believes that cinema is an art form to be
expressed."
