Deadline sat down with Franco at the festival ahead of tonights premiere.
DEADLINE:What was the starting point for this film?
Particularly Mexicans, because Im Mexican.
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They do that country a lot of good and this is never acknowledged.
This didnt start now, even if its gotten to a critical point now.
Ive been paying attention to it since Im a kid.
As a kid, I would go on vacation to the States.
I had a blast speaking Spanish everywhere in the States.
FRANCO:Like I said, Ive been obsessed with it my whole life.
I wouldnt relate it to Trump directly.
Its worse with Trump, of course, hes very vocal about it, hes straightforward.
But politicians that wouldnt talk in that way were not better to Mexicans and to immigrants.
They would maybe be more classical politicians in terms of not speaking certain ideas that spark hate.
The characters in my movie, Jessicas family, theyre liberals, and that makes it more interesting.
DEADLINE:What do you think should be done to fix the Mexico-U.S. border crisis?
FRANCO:Im just a filmmaker.
How to solve the border?
Also, I made a story that is mainly intimate story of this couple.
DEADLINE:Does the premise of a talented dancer not being granted residency in the U.S. really ring true.
DEADLINE:As you say, the family of Jessica Chastains liberal wealthy family.
FRANCO:No, not at all.
I make a run at be respectful.
Im never pointing fingers at anyone.
Theres no good or bad.
I give a shot to write human beings that make mistakes.
I understand what Jessicas character is going through.
I do, you know, I wouldnt judge her.
I wouldnt label her.
I didnt take the simplistic approach because also some conservative people might show more qualities when the time comes.
I think all these labels simplify in a very dangerous way.
Empathy is the always the thing.
Even when I made New Order, a very violent film, its always about empathy.
DEADLINE:Without giving away the end of the film away… its unexpected.
What was your thinking?
DEADLINE:How do you work with Jessica Chastain?
FRANCO:She trusts me entirely but the reason she trusts me is because we have a great communication.
We love our time together talking about personal matters or ideas for films or having a laugh or whatever.
We became friends through making Memory.
Talent is not just good being a good actor means.
I use their brains and a lot of the ideas of those come from those conversations.
And it goes both ways.
