In an interview, Natalie Portman reminisced about her role as a child in “Léon: The Pro”. The actress, who is currently touring with her new film ‘May December’, has spoken at the Cannes Film Festival about ‘amoral art’ and her complicated feelings towards filmmaker Luc Besson: Portman, who as a 13-year-old child actress portrayed the young orphan in Léon” today finds that the strip is no longer appropriate.
Natalie Portman: ‘Violent love affair between a child and an adult is repugnant’
In a new one Interview with The Hollywood Reporter Speaking at the Cannes Film Festival, the 41-year-old explained that Besson’s “violent, amoral and quasi-romantic relationship between an adult hitman” played by Jean Reno “and a 12-year-old is repulsive to say the least”.
“Leon” in the review:
On the one hand, she really enjoyed the shoot. On the other hand, some of what’s shown in the film is quite offensive, she continues, adding that the reason the film’s legacy is so “complicated” is because people either love it or find it disgusting. “It’s a film that people still love. It appeals to me more than almost anything else I’ve ever done. He made my career possible for me. But looking at him now, he definitely has some off-putting aspects to say the least. So, yeah, it’s complicated for me.”
The background of the film
The 1994 film tells the story of an Italian hitman Léon (Jean Reno) in New York’s Little Italy, who finds himself caring for a 12-year-old girl, Mathilda (Natalie Portman). Wanted by a gang of corrupt DEA agents, he trains Mathilda to be a killer.
Besson’s film and the idea behind it are inspired by the French director’s relationship with child actress Maïwenn. He met her when she was 12 and he was 29. The two began what Besson says was a “romantic” relationship when she was 15. Maïwenn had his child when he was 16.
Portman’s new film and series roles
Portman is currently starring in director Todd Haynes’ drama May December, which premieres in competition at Cannes on May 20. The main roles in the romantic drama are played by Portman, Julianne Moore and Charles Melton. The story centers on a Hollywood actress who meets to research the woman she is set to portray in a film about their scandalous relationship 20 years earlier. The title of the work is derived from the colloquial English term for age differences in partnerships.
The actress can also be seen in a three-part HBO Original documentary series, “Angel City,” which takes a look behind the scenes and onto the field of Los Angeles women’s soccer team Angel City Football Club. The team is founded and led by women, including Portman.