In the world of contemporary cinema, Norwegian filmmaker Kristoffer Borgli is a provocateur who is not afraid to tackle the intricacies of fame, societal pressures, and the blurred lines between the virtual and physical worlds. Known for his daring approach and for using satire to unveil the darker side of human nature, Borgli's work has garnered international acclaim, with his latest film Dream Scenario captivating audiences with its genre-bending narrative and stellar cast.
Nicolas Cage in Dream Scenario. imdb.com
Dream Scenario delves into the journey of Paul Matthews, portrayed by Nicolas Cage. A man initially in control of his image, Paul finds himself spiralling into a world where the lines between reality and perception blur, mirroring the very real struggles faced by the actor bringing him to life -- Nicolas Cage. The film is inspired by the real world phenomenon of Cage as a meme on the internet, and explores more about one of the many contemporary cultural forces encapsulated by Borgli in this darkly humorous tragicomedy.
The 38-year-old filmmaker's fascination with dreams as a narrative tool, the construction of elaborate dream sequences, and the evolution of his perspective on success comes after the 2022 horror film Sick Of Myself. Life sat down with Borgli via Zoom to unravel the layers of Dream Scenario. He provides insights of his creative process and sheds light on the intersection of fame, society and the human psyche, and his collaboration with Nicolas Cage.
In some previous interviews, you mentioned that Dream Scenario was inspired by Japanese monster film Shin Godzilla. Is this true and can you explain why?
It's not purely inspired by the movie because that would be a little bit strange if I watched it and what came to my head was Dream Scenario [laughs]. But it did inspire me through its use of a high concept idea, Godzilla, and how it then focuses on something completely different, which is the bureaucracy of Japan. I thought it was such a brilliant concept to take something like a movie trope and not look at the centre of that idea. I thought the Dream Scenario should do something similar. The high concept idea is a man who appears in people's dreams but the focus is on just the character and what he does. After, the story shifts to look at our culture and how we respond to things when a strange phenomenon happens or how we collectively talk about things. So this high concept idea was inspired by Shin Godzilla.
In Dream Scenario, you examine the impact of online pressure on real-world behaviour. What inspired you to delve into this subject and how do you see it reflecting in contemporary culture?
Director Kristoffer Borgli, left, and producer Ari Aster. STEWART COOK
It doesn't exactly look at an online phenomenon, but a real life phenomenon. The way it influences or impacts the main character who is starved for validation is something that feels very relevant. I think anyone who has existential feelings about who they are, or want validation or recognition can experience terrible consequences. The way we are all turning ourselves into personal brands to be commodified is something the movie looks at through dreams.
Nicolas Cage's performance as Paul Matthews is a central element of the movie. How did you approach working with Cage to bring out the complexities of the character?
When I wrote the movie, I didn't have anyone specific in mind. But once we started and the producer started talking about potential actors, it became very clear that Nicolas Cage was a unique fit. He was chosen not only for his acting talent, but because he is already an icon in our culture and he has an image that has taken on a life on its own outside his control. It was interesting to learn Nicolas Cage could play a character that goes through similar mechanisms. He could relate to the story and the ups and downs that Paul Matthews goes through.
How much transformation did Cage have to go through in order to portray the character?
The only challenge was to make Nicolas look unremarkable. He had to transform into a suburban dad with limited charisma and social awkwardness. But Nicolas is the complete opposite. He's socially comfortable, has a lot of charisma, and is recognisable. So we tried to work together to figure out what needed to change and it was his idea for the character to be bold. I sort of imagined a very specific, suburban, college professor look for him. We even changed his nose by using prosthetics. This was done to make him look even more approachable and like a friendly neighbour.
Nicolas Cage working on set with director Kristoffer Borgli. A24 FILMS
Are there any past Cage performances that made you want to work with him in particular?
Oh yeah, there's a bunch. I used to work at a video store when I was a teenager and we would have Nicolas Cage marathons. I've been a fan of his for a very long time. Some of my absolute favourite movies are Adaptation and David Lynch's Wild At Heart. Besides these, Cage has many other good ones like Raising Arizona and Leaving Las Vegas. Also, I loved Red Rock West when I was working at the video store.
The tragicomedy tone of Dream Scenario sets it apart. How did you strike a balance between humour and the darker aspects of the narrative, especially in the context of fame and societal expectations?
When you make a movie about dreams, it feels natural to include nightmares. I felt that it was a natural thought to think everyone's dreams could suddenly turn dark because we can't control what we dream about. I think it was very early on when I thought this. I felt it was sort of comedic to see someone enjoying dreaming about something and suddenly turn it into something completely unenjoyable. So that was always part of the concept and finding a balance because I wanted the audience to feel how terrible these nightmares could be.
Dream Scenario incorporates elaborate dream sequences. Can you share insights into how you and your team approached constructing these sequences and the role they play in the film?
Yeah, I mean, it was exciting because we could make a lot of mini movies because dreams could be about anything. It was an exciting opportunity to come up with ideas to direct. So you have like a big earthquake with a bunch of explosions and people falling off from the second floor and then you have alligators inside of an old home. But the idea was always to figure out dream sequences that reflected how Nick's character felt about himself. So all of these dreams sort of reflect something about the state of mind of the main character and they make sense for the story in that sense.
A24 FILMS
A24 FILMS
