Perhaps better known in recent years for her large brood and relationship with fellow A-lister Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie is set to make a splash as her new film In the Land of Blood and Honey opens to wider audiences in the United States.
With the film, Jolie took on writing and directorial responsibilities- but the actress says it’s not a vanity project and that she just wanted to make the film, assuming the roles because there was no one else to do so. In the Land of Blood and Honey is by no means light fare- the film covers wartime conflict in the early 90’s in Bosnia, and the stunning violence that occurred during that time. Jolie acknowledges as much, saying that her intent with much of the film was to inspire the same discomfort she felt when seeing the effects of unrest firsthand:
“The crux of the story was my frustration with lack of intervention… I spent so much time with people in post-conflict situations where I wish I could just turn back the clock, before they were so scarred, and before so many losses…. if you’re watching the film, you’re thinking, ‘Can somebody please stop this? It’s getting worse, I want to get out of this theater, I just want to get out of here!’”
Of exploring different roles on set, Jolie told fans during a web chat Thursday night that the transition was far from seamless. She spoke of having a bit of a crisis of confidence and seeking comfort from Pitt as she struggled to bring the story to the silver screen:
“I had a complete emotional breakdown in the shower and Brad found me crying. I felt this huge responsibility and I felt very small. I thought, ‘Who am I to take this on?’…I had a complete meltdown.”
In the Land of Blood and Honey is up for a Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film this Sunday.
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