How closely did you hue the locations in the shoot to the real-life places. Is that really the building where Maria and her family lived in Vienna?
Simon Curtis: It’s not actually. The actual apartment was a building site, unfortunately, so we couldn’t film in it. But we did film in another big apartment in Vienna, so it had the emotional resonance of it without actually being it.
Are the people who speak at the scene at the art restitution event in Vienna all Holocaust survivors?
Simon Curtis: Well, only the third [speaker] was an actual witness. She was a 96-year-old woman who had seen Hitler driving into Vienna. And she has sadly since passed away, but it was great to spend that day with her. She was a phenomenal woman.
As for casting Woman in Gold, was Helen Mirren your first choice to play Maria?
Simon Curtis: Yeah. I’ve always wanted to work with her and I know I’m not alone in thinking she’s a brilliant actress. She has everything for this part. She can be feisty, emotional and witty. I’m from a Jewish family and women like Maria are very familiar to me.
How did you decide on Tatiana Maslany? [Maslany plays the young Maria in flashbacks.]
Simon Curtis: Well, I had met her in London, and curiously, she seemed to look like Helen. Also, she spoke German and she’s the most phenomenal actress, so it was for all those reasons.
How did you start consulting with Mr. Schoenberg for the project?
Simon Curtis: Randy was a great supporter of the film and a great help to the film. He read the script and he was on the set. In fact, he appears in an unspoken cameo in the film. Being with him on the press tour last week, hearing him say publicly how accurate the film is and how much he likes it, it means the world to me.
How did his involvement with the film shape the screenplay?
Simon Curtis: There’s a scene where Randy is overcome with emotion at the Holocaust Memorial in Vienna, and that is a version of the scene that Randy told Alexi [Kaye Campbell], the screenwriter, and me. He described how he himself had been overcome at the memorial thinking of the fate of his great grandparents. Also, he’s a lawyer so he helped us navigate through the complicated legal procedures, as well.
Were there any tensions shooting a film in Vienna that depicts the city in a rather harsh light?
Simon Curtis: There was surprisingly little tension, in fact. The people of Vienna and the authorities were very supportive. You’re right, we were recreating some sensitive days – there were swastikas. But it was a very special time filming in Vienna, I absolutely loved it and everyone was very good to us.
That concludes our interview, but we’d like to thank Simon very much for his time. Be sure to check out Woman in Gold when it hits theatres this Friday!
