‘Words of War’ Interview: Executive Producer Sean Penn

The new biographical drama ‘Words of War’, which tells the true story of late Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya and was directed by James Strong (‘Torchwood’), opens in theaters on May 2nd.

Executive produced by two-time Oscar winner Sean Penn (‘Mystic River’ and ‘Milk’), the film stars Maxine Peake (‘The Theory of Everything’) as Anna Politkovskaya, Jason Isaacs (‘The White Lotus’) as Alexander Politkovsky, and Ciarán Hinds (‘Belfast’) as Dmitry Muratov.

Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with executive producer Sean Penn about his work on ‘Words of War’, how he got involved in the project, Anna Politkovskaya’s incredible story, why it was important to tell this story now, Maxine Peake and Jason Isaacs’ performances, director James Strong’s impressive work, Penn’s passion for freedom of the press, and what people can do to protect their own freedom of speech.

Related Article: ‘The White Lotus’ Jason Isaacs and Maxine Peake Talk ‘Words of War’

Moviefone: To begin with, can you talk about how you got involved with this project and what exactly was your role as executive producer?

Sean Penn: That’s easy. So, Mark Maxey, one of the producers initially had been in touch with Congressman Eric Swalwell, who I have a continuous conversation with. The film was complete by the time I got involved, totally complete. They were, I think looking for champions to help present it in a sense. So, both Congressman Swalwell and I got involved on that basis. I was asked to see the film and when I saw it, I was just knocked out. Before we might talk about any of the timely prescient or political aspects of it, Maxine Peake, Jason Isaacs and Ciarán Hinds, the entire cast are just so fantastic from an actor’s point of view. It was exciting on its own terms. The story itself, I did have some memory of Anna Politkovskaya, the real person, beautifully played by Maxine Peake, and it is that thing that makes me most emotional in film and in life, which is just to recognize deep courage. It is a story of the kind of courage that were it not so rare, the fate of Anna would not have been what it was, because too many voices have been drowned out by that monster, and she was one of very few who had that kind of courage.

MF: Why do you think now was the right time to tell Anna Politkovskaya’s story on screen?

SP: Because I think that one group of one political perspective, and I’m obviously generalizing in this country, is by and large unwilling to soberly recognize how urgent the situation is. Even people who will recognize it and talk about it at a dinner table as if in a kind of performance of hyperbole. But it’s not hyperbole. We are a lot deeper than we let ourselves see most of the time, deeper into a perilous time for the United States of America, and for the world. A substantial part of that has nothing to do with leaders. It has to do with citizens. Citizens who are either exercising profound cowardice in numbing their own imagination and taking the imagination of, in effect cult leaders who might otherwise be working three blocks off the Vegas strip selling used cars. Or on the other hand, and therefore instead of exercising laziness, exercising a kind of fervent worship of nonsense, and the kind of nonsense that is most dangerous. It wouldn’t be the first time in my lifetime that that occurred. It occurred and is occurring in Russia today, and on that level. The point is for us and others not to ever let it get to that level. First thing we could do is maybe listen to our neighbor and find ways to talk that will allow our own voices to be heard. That’s something I need to improve. This movie does that. ‘Words of War’ does that. I really think that people coming in from every point of view will see largely the same thing as each other, no matter what their point of view is. Then we’ll bump both sides again, if not have a deeper understanding of it, have a refreshed one and a sober one.

MF: You are very passionate about fighting for freedom of speech and freedom of the press. Can you talk about how your own beliefs run parallel with the themes of this movie?

SP: Look, I would say yes, certainly I think that without free speech, which must include a lot of things we don’t like. I think reasonable people know what hate speech is, and we don’t need that. At least we don’t need that provided to us in commercial transfer. We don’t need young minds forming to be learning from morons, or from the Russians who take up a lot of that space, known and unknown to the readers. For me, it’s clear that without free speech and a freedom of the press, there is only fascism to be had. There is only committing oneself to a life without an imagination or a dream, which is what people suffer under authoritarianism.

MF: As an actor yourself, can you talk about Maxine Peake’s performance and the work that goes into playing a real person like Anna Politkovskaya?

SP: She captured courage. That must be something, you asked me what am I feeling in parallel with this thing? Well, what I would say is, I must assume that, in whatever way it manifests, as an actress, as a person with her friends, that the lady is a courageous lady. So, she understood the music of that courage, and it’s beautiful.

MF: The film also depicts how Politkovskaya’s work affected her personal life with her husband, played by Jason Isaacs. Can you talk about that and Jason Isaac’s performance?

SP: I’m very excited about, he’s been a very well-known and very well-respected actor for a long time, but with ‘The White Lotus’ alone, I’m just sort of tickled to see he’s getting his due, and that he did this film, and what he brought to this film. Yeah, he’s just a consummate actor, and great to watch. Ciarán Hinds is also great, and one of the great faces in film. It just resonates. He comes of times we miss. Very handsome guy, but not pretty. You know, a face that’s lived a lot of life, and you sense that part of it was with a sword.

MF: You are also a very accomplished director, so from that point of view, what is your opinion of director James Strong’s work on this film?

SP: I mean he did the thing that should be our aspiration every time we make a movie, he made me forgot I was watching a movie. I just was in it. I watch movies like a typical audience member. I don’t know if they’d even told me what it was about, because I was familiar with it to a degree with Anna. I had some memories of that case. It’s come up in conversations through the years, and then of course what happened in Moscow at the theater. He got behind the curtain on that in a beautiful way. But he’s a great storyteller and that’s directing.

MF: Finally, what would you say to audience members that leave the movie wanting to help protect freedom of speech and freedom of the press, and what conversations do you hope this film sparks?

SP: Well, right off the top of my head, and this is just this one tiny thing among so many options, but there are organizations like IWPR, the Institute for War and Peace. If you’ve got $6 every six months, that’s meaningful. More is more meaningful. So, that’s the easy one, things like that. To do research and find which NGOs that support journalists, and there are many of them, that’s a go-to. I think also when I use this expression, which is not mine, borrowed, that “What sits on our neck is not here just for decoration,” I am very aware that that’s particularly true in my case. At least, that it’s not there for decoration. But it is there for something, and we should use it. So, I think that doing some research and finding out in which way, from financial, to whatever kind of direct involvement, people can support legitimate journalism and legitimate journalists.

What is the plot of ‘Words of War’?

Anna Politkovskaya (Maxine Peake) was a journalist and human rights activist who persisted with reporting on the conflict in Chechnya despite considerable danger to herself and tried to expose corruption within Russia under the governance of Vladimir Putin. She continued in the face of poisoning, intimidation and violence before being the victim of a contract killing in the elevator of her house on October 7, 2006.

Who is in the cast of ‘Words of War’?

Sean Penn speaks with the press at the 81st Annual Academy Awards Awards. Credit/Provider: Rick Salyer / ©A.M.P.A.S. Copyright: ©A.M.P.A.S.

List of Sean Penn Movies and TV Shows:

Buy Sean Penn Movies On Amazon