The task of a director, who is at the same time the scriptwriter of his own project, is to find the best actors capable of performing his work and his vision of the story.
Faced with this challenge was Peter Hedges, who thought about the idea of the film for several years and was able, eventually, in May 2017 to sit down to write Ben Is Back.
The premise was a mother with an addicted son who returned home at Christmas. In just six weeks he finished the first draft. "Instead of me telling the story," Hedges recalls, "it was like the story was told to me. I wrote all at once, in total frenzy, and that almost never happens to me. I tried to let the story flow."
Ben Is Back: Julia Roberts in a role that shows all her experience
The director feels especially proud of the role played by Julia Roberts. "I have written very interesting mothers," he says. "But I think Holly Burns is the most complete, coherent and brave mother I have ever created in my life."
But he clarifies: "This does not mean that Holly does everything right. In fact, she makes some pretty questionable decisions. But she never acts in a malicious way. She always does it to protect her children," he said.
And in that role, we will see Roberts in the imminent release of this film that cannot leave anyone indifferent.
