The New York City premier of ‘The Christophers‘ on April 8 starring Ian Mckellen and Michaela Coel had a small but mighty energy.
The new indie from director Steven Soderbergh brought out a playful side to the cast including James Corden, Jessica Gunning and screenwriter Ed Solomon.
The film features an unlikely pair of painters. One a recluse (McKellen) who spends more time filming Cameo videos than painting, and the other (Coel) a dejected art school graduate resigned to being a food truck employee and small time curator.
Photo by The Knockturnal
Despite the dark comedy of the script, the actors and filmmakers delighted in a chance to celebrate art of all kinds. Even McKellen and Gunning couldn’t resist the mood, both spotted doing a shimming dance together on the carpet.
The positivity continued when Coel spoke about working with McKellan for the first time. In our interview Coel recounted how at the table read, hosted at the actor’s home, he was unafraid of meticulous conversations about his character Julian’s motives saying, “It’s impossible to work with him without receiving wisdom.”
Photo by The Knockturnal
That playful energy of the carpet comes out in the film through the sibling duo played by Gunning and Corden. They’re the catalyst to the scheme, hiring Lori (Coel) to forge their father Julian’s paintings in hopes to sell them for millions once he croaks.
As funny as clueless adult children are, the film doesn’t shy away from topics like artistic failure, creative mentorship and heartbreak. McKellen and screenwriter Ed Solomon both chatted with us about seeking inspiration through theater and what art means after it’s released.
The heavy topics of the film didn’t dampen the mood inside the Metrograph. Everyone took the energy of the carpet to the screening where stars like Jack Dylan Grazer, Sabrina Brier, May Wong and Elegance Bratton showed their support. The theater was quick to laugh at Lori’s cutting remarks and Julian’s meandering monologues that were equal parts cynical and nonsensical amongst the discussions of what happens to art after it’s left you or you have left it.
It’s a heavy question considering the state of the world, Soderbergh giving a short but heartfelt speech before the film thanking everyone for showing up despite the latest world news. And that’s where the film succeeded, guests were able to find a moment of levity and hope that carried into the reception.
‘The Christophers’ is perhaps sadder than Soderbergh’s usual films, but it maintains some hope that mistakes can be forgiven, and we can overcome what feels impossible through art and connection. Solomon saying, “It’s about reconnecting and restoration in a lot of ways, of the self and of the soul and of purpose.”
‘The Christophers’ hits theaters worldwide on April 17.
