Writer-director Michael Russell Gunn and actors Jeff Daniels and Jared Harris sat down to discuss ‘The Brink of War’ ahead of its theatrical release this weekend.
“We want them to walk out of the theaters with hope that they, if you can sit down and talk with an adversary, no matter your differences, that you can make a better world,” filmmaker Michael Russell Gunn says of what he hopes audiences take away from watching the film.
The conversation with Michael Russell Gunn, Jeff Daniels, and Jared Harris centered on the historical significance of ‘The Brink of War’ and the relevance of its story to the present day. Gunn discussed the parallels between the Cold War and today’s increasingly dangerous geopolitical climate, while Daniels reflected on the importance of filming inside the actual Reykjavík house where Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev met. Harris and Daniels also discussed immersing themselves in historical research and the process of portraying the two leaders, with Daniels joking about the unexpected frequency with which he has been offered presidential roles. Ultimately, Gunn hopes the film leaves audiences with a sense of hope and a renewed belief in the power of dialogue, even between the most divided adversaries.
In October 1986, at the height of the Cold War, President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev met in Reykjavík, Iceland, for what was expected to be a routine, if high-stakes, diplomatic summit. Instead, over one extraordinary weekend inside Höfði, a small seaside house, the two leaders of superpowers possessing nearly 70,000 nuclear weapons came closer than anyone had imagined to dismantling the arsenals that had defined their rivalry for decades.
Although the summit ended without a final agreement, the trust built between Reagan and Gorbachev in Reykjavík would ultimately help change the course of the Cold War. Four decades later, the Reykjavík Summit remains a remarkable example of how dialogue between adversaries can create the possibility of peace even when an agreement seems out of reach. ‘The Brink of War’ brings that extraordinary moment of history to the screen, placing audiences inside the room as two leaders confront the possibility of changing the world—and the consequences of failing to do so.
Written and directed by Michael Russell Gunn in his feature directorial debut, ‘The Brink of War’ stars Jeff Daniels, Jared Harris, Hope Davis, Branka Katic, and J.K. Simmons.
Angel Studios releases ‘The Brink of War’ in theaters this weekend.
Awards Focus: What made now the right time to be telling what happens in ‘The Brink of War?’
Michael Russell Gunn: Well, the world is becoming a more dangerous place for the first time since these events. Nuclear arsenals are expanding, and there’s tension throughout the world. And I think now, more than ever, we need to have confidence and courage to engage in dialogue with adversaries.
AF: The summit took place on my birthday in 1986. How important was it to use the actual house in the film?
Jeff Daniels: The house becomes a character in the film and the country of Iceland is very proud of what happened in that house. They preserved it like a museum. So when we walked in there, it was 1986 still. Michael was able to get the same artwork brought back up and hung on the walls. So to be in the house, in the room, in the chairs, it was like being in a cathedral. You felt a presence there.
AF: How did the two of you prepare for your roles?
Jared Harris: I mean, you study the script first, then you go to the history books. There’s lots of biographies on both of the characters. They were present in a time of media, so there’s lots of stuff on YouTube for research to understand the mannerisms and the inflections and the way that they spoke. You just immerse yourself in that. Well, I mean, I remember when I came to visit you at your apartment, you had Ronald Reagan on the loop on the television 24/7, just constantly playing, constantly playing.
Jeff Daniels: Yeah, it’s like going to college and you’re majoring in Reagan.
Jared Harris: (Laughs)
AF: Jeff, you’ve played President Washington, voiced Thomas Jefferson, and are now taking on President Reagan. Is there anything in particular that keeps drawing you back to playing presidents?
Jeff Daniels: The offers. I’m usually offered those roles. It’s not like I’m going out to Hollywood with a, I think it’s time for me to play George Washington. That’s not happening. For some reason over the career, they’ve come to me for those particular roles, and I’m glad they did.
AF: What do you hope people take away from watching the film?
Michael Russell Gunn: Hope. We want them to walk out of the theaters with hope that they, if you can sit down and talk with an adversary, no matter your differences, that you can make a better world.
AF: Thank you so much.
Jeff Daniels: Thank you.
Jared Harris: Thank you.