Pawel Pawlikowski Reflects on Being Lost at Cannes and Why He Creates Films Set in the Past
Acclaimed director Pawel Pawlikowski’s latest film, Fatherland, encapsulates the sentiment of “You can never go home again” through the twilight years of renowned author Thomas Mann, famous for his work Death in Venice.
Set in 1949, the narrative follows Mann, a Nobel laureate, as he returns to Germany after fleeing it in the wake of World War II. The film unfolds as a five-day road journey with Mann and his daughter, Erika, who together miss the funeral of Klaus, Mann’s son and Erika’s brother, due to their travel commitments.
Mann has been invited to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, a figure both East and West Germany lay claim to. However, this invitation poses a conflict for the Mann family, who have resettled in America and struggle with their feelings towards a post-Hitler Germany.
During a recent press conference, a journalist prompted Pawlikowski to reflect on the film’s relevance in today’s context, asking, “What year do you think we’re in right now? 1936, 1943, 1949?”
Pawlikowski responded thoughtfully, saying, “I don’t think it’s a good question…nothing is ever like anything else. It’s very specific. There are new technologies, a digital universe, a brave world we’ve entered — brave new world and barbarism at the same time. It’s an unprecedented situation. I’m lost today. That’s why I make movies that take place in the past.”
The director emphasized that he did not aim to create a biopic, but rather to capture the intimate dynamics of the Mann family on their road trip. Although Mann’s wife was part of the journey, she was excluded from the narrative in favor of focusing on Erika, described by Pawlikowski as a more engaging figure—an actress and writer with a fiery spirit.
Pawlikowski believes that concentrating on relatable characters enhances the film’s universality. “It’s about finding the story and the possibility of what reflects who you are at a particular moment,” he explained at the press event. “One of the advantages of not making films too often is that I get to live in between.”
He elaborated on his filmmaking style, stating, “You try to make a film that isn’t narcissistic or biographical through strong scenes, scenes which don’t explain, but put you in the place and give you room to imagine.”
He aims for a portrayal that allows viewers to engage with the story on different levels, asserting, “Some enter that space, others won’t. I try not to use arguments of today, rather enter the logic of the time.”
Fatherland is set for release through Mubi in theaters. Notably, Pawlikowski last visited in 2018, where he won the Best Director award for Cold War.
