The fear of one’s own mortality during the corona pandemic led US director Steven Spielberg to shoot his autobiographical film “The Fabelmans”. “The pandemic scared me so much,” said the 76-year-old at a press conference in Berlin on Tuesday. “In the early stages of the pandemic in early 2020, (..) when we all went in and didn’t come out for a long time, that’s when I started thinking about mortality and aging,” said Spielberg. This fear gave him the courage to tell his personal story.
“The Fabelmans” is about Spielberg’s childhood and youth as the son of Jewish parents in America in the 50s and 60s – and his beginnings as a filmmaker. The film was to be shown at the Berlinale that evening. Then Spielberg should also be honored with the Honorary Golden Bear at the International Film Festival for his life’s work. Spielberg described the award as a “huge highlight” in his life.
During the pandemic, he spent a lot of time at home with his wife and adult children. “That gave me time to breathe,” Spielberg said. He then asked himself, “If there’s a film I haven’t done yet and I don’t have the time to do it, what would it be?” He always carried the answer within himself. He always wanted to tell the story of his parents and sisters and the struggle between art and family.
Spielberg nominated for Best Screenplay for the first time
“The Fabelmans” is nominated for seven Oscars, including Spielberg’s first nomination for Best Screenplay, which he co-wrote with Tony Kushner (“Munich”, “Lincoln”, “West Side Story”). The film will start in German cinemas on March 9th.
Spielberg has directed more than 30 feature films of various genres, including Jaws, ET – the Extra-Terrestrial, Indiana Jones, Jurassic Park, Schindler’s List, Saving Private Ryan, Munich and “West Side Stories”. Which of them does he like best? “My films are like my children,” Spielberg said. “I have no favorite.”
He is currently not working on any new films. He was recently very busy with two projects. He shot “The Fabelmans” before his musical adaptation “West Side Story” hit the cinemas. All of this was very time-consuming. Now he doesn’t know what to do next. “It’s a nice feeling on the one hand, but a terrible feeling on the other.” He now has control over his life and can do whatever he wants. “But I have to work and I love to work.”
Spielberg says that he is just as motivated to make films today as he was when he was a filmmaker in the early days. They are the same cinematographic forces. “What struck me as a small child is a feeling that I still have.” A good book, a good screenplay, turning a good idea into a beautiful film. Filmmaking has always been the most important thing in life for him – and it will probably always stay that way. “Except for the birth of my children,” Spielberg said.
