Is the next step for Natalie Portman the director’s chair? She’s pretty much done it all as an actress thus far, indie movies, big blockbusters, romance, dumb comedies and everything else in between. Hell, she’s got an Oscar on her shelf too. She’s made inroads as a producer putting her name to “Hesher,” “No Strings Attached,” and “Love And Other Impossible Pursuits” (though she probably wishes things had gone a bit smoother with “Jane Got A Gun“). So why not a feature length directorial debut? She’s already helmed a couple of shorts, including one in “New York, I Love You” and it’s something she’s had her eye on for a while. Indeed, it looks like a project we forgot about is kicking back to life.
Way, way back in 2007, it was reported that Portman would direct and star in adaptation of Israeli writer, novelist, journalist, and professor Amos Oz‘s memoir, “A Tale Of Love And Darkness” and then nobody seemed to talk about it ever again. But it seems it’s coming back to life. According to Israel Hayom (via the Natalie Portman fansite) Portman will head to Israel in September to start scouting locations after the script met with the approval of Oz. Portman apparently co-wrote it with two unnamed screenwriters, Oz signed off and now things seem to be moving forward. Here’s the Amazon synopsis of the book:
It is the story of a boy growing up in the war-torn Jerusalem of the forties and fifties, in a small apartment crowded with books in twelve languages and relatives speaking nearly as many. His mother and father, both wonderful people, were ill-suited to each other. When Oz was twelve and a half years old, his mother committed suicide, a tragedy that was to change his life. He leaves the constraints of the family and the community of dreamers, scholars, and failed businessmen, and joins a kibbutz. He changes his name, marries, has children, and finally becomes a writer as well as an active participant in the political life of Israel.
A story of clashing cultures and lives, of suffering and perseverance, of love and darkness.
There’s no official confirmation or even any indication if the project has financing, but it seems the actress is getting the ball rolling again. It’s also not clear what role she might take in the movie. So just keep it on your radar for now, and perhaps there might be more information on this soon.