Kristen Stewart, Woody Harrelson, and Director Quentin Dupieux Share Their On-Screen Eating Experience: “I Only Puked Once” at Cannes Studio
Kristen Stewart and Woody Harrelson Star in Quentin Dupieux’s ‘Full Phil’
In Full Phil, Kristen Stewart delivers a unique performance that involves a remarkable culinary challenge—eating copious amounts of food on-screen without a spit bucket. Co-star Woody Harrelson joked about the endeavor, stating, “I’d have had a spit bucket. I wouldn’t care.”
The film follows the relationship between Phil (Harrelson) and his daughter, played by Stewart, as they travel to Paris to reconnect. While Stewart indulges in a variety of delectable dishes from room service and restaurants, Phil experiences a rather surreal reaction, feeling the consequences of everything she consumes.
“I’m going to die. I’m not supposed to actually perish,” Stewart remarked about her character’s insatiable appetite. “They had a very talented and willful French man making the food. Our process means that I have to eat all day long. They wanted it to taste really good and reflect the French cuisine.”
Despite the daunting eating scenes, Stewart found value in the artistic challenge, describing it as “a metaphor” for her character’s emotional journey. "The eating’s cool because it’s nice to have obstacles… She’s a voracious bottomless pit, eating her feelings," she explained.
Director Quentin Dupieux drew inspiration from his own experiences as a father. Having an 11-year-old daughter, he noted, “It seems obvious that I may be talking about me and my daughter, plus I’m getting fat.” He highlighted that while the film might resemble his life, it should not be interpreted literally.
Harrelson praised Dupieux’s creative vision, stating, “He is a true maestro and I think his vision is extraordinary.” He noted that Dupieux’s distinctive style magnifies the viewer’s experience.
Dupieux elaborated on the film’s concept, emphasizing his intention to satirize American perceptions of Paris. “I was just making fun of Americans visiting Paris… I don’t want to say too much, but no, there’s no message. It’s just like I’m making fun of humanity,” he said.
The connection between Harrelson and Stewart dates back several years when they considered working together on a different project. Harrelson recalled meeting Stewart when she was young and noted her talent was already evident. "I met her when she was about 17. She had just worked with Sean Penn," he shared.
Stewart had her own memorable first impression of Harrelson. “It was love at first sight,” she said, recalling her admiration for him in White Men Can’t Jump. Their chemistry blossomed in earlier meet-ups, heightening her excitement when the opportunity arose to work with him in Full Phil.
Looking ahead, Stewart is busy with multiple projects. “I’m writing two movies right now…and I’m going to go shoot an Amazon show called The Challenger,” she said. She aims to create two films by next May, including an exploitation film that she plans to distribute independently.
Harrelson, in addition to his work on the upcoming Apple TV series Brothers with Matthew McConaughey, is set to star in a Netflix film directed by Jason Bateman titled Cackling of the Dodos.
For further insights, view the full conversation in the video above.
Woody Harrelson and Kristen Stewart in ‘Full Phil’
Chi Fou Mi
