‘Night has Settled’: Exclusive Interview with Adriana Barraza

By Enrique Pedraza

I had the honor of talking with one of the most talented and acclaimed Mexican actors, Academy Award Nominee Adriana Barraza, about his latest film “Night has Settled” (my review here) and more.

This is a film that feels utterly personal. That captivated me while watching it.

Yes, completely. And I think that makes it universal because we can see ourselves reflected in the story.

Yes, very reflected actually. In my personal experience it is very interesting because coming from Latin America (Colombia), I know what it is to grow up with a nanny who becomes like a secondary mother.

It is another mother, exactly. Oh, I could tell you so many stories about that…

Well, share one of your stories with me.

Well look, I was making this film with Jennifer Aniston in Los Angeles and I went to Whole Foods one day. I saw a nanny, from Latino origin of course, with a beautiful baby with bright, yellow hair. The baby would say: “agua, agua” (water, water). So I approached the woman and told him if the baby always spoke Spanish and she said: “Yes, he speaks Spanish because his mother told me to communicate in Spanish with him so he can know both languages. The big brother also speaks Spanish fluently now.” And I told myself: “Wow, how beautiful”. It is so lovely to witness moments like that, Enrique.

You know what’s so interesting about all these Latino nannies here in the U.S? They achieve an amazing fusion and love towards words in Spanish, and I think that is extremely important. I think it’s a beautiful thing and a phenomenon that is very modern, where our culture and lifestyle as Latin Americans, is being reflected on the education of American kids.

Yes, I think it’s an important clash of language and cultures. And another powerful thing, also seen in the film, is the unconditional love that people, who are not related to us, are capable of giving us. It is beautiful.

Very, very beautiful! Of course there are exceptions, but I think that the vast majority of nannies, who have to work hard to sustain their families in another country, they put their heart and soul into making those kids feel “apachachados” (pampered) – (She laughs.)

What do you think Aida represents to Oliver? Because it is something way more profound that apparent love.

Yes, way more profound. Aida is a woman who is….a bit more educated. She is more like a governess sometimes, than an actual nanny. For Oliver, I think she represents the universal mother since his actual mother is so distant from his life. Aida gives Oliver an education his mother isn’t capable of giving, where Aida has a higher level of superiority that Oliver really trusts.

How was your experience working with Spencer, who plays Oliver?

Oh, it was spectacular. Spencer was so great. His father, mother and even his sister were on set all the time. He is so loving and charming. He was never afraid of getting close, you know? Because there is a huge difference between how friendship or love is experienced in the U.S and how it is experienced in Latin America. It is usually way more distant here. Back home, we kiss each other and we hug, even if we just met. That doesn’t really happen here in America (she laughs). It’s like there are certain rules we have to follow, like a protocol, right? But with Spencer it was different. He was open and very professional. Immediately he hugged me and had not problem with me being affectionate. This was really important for our characters because it made it believable, I think. He is a terrific actor and was beautiful to work with him. I enjoyed working with the whole team in this film, but especially with Spencer.

And I guess it was extra special for you since you are an advocate of education in the arts, especially for young kids. I read in an article about your acting studio, and the fact it was opening its first season to showcase student actors on stage.

Absolutely, Enrique! Look, when I was still living in Mexico, I used to work a lot in T.V and Theatre, not so much as an actress back then, but directing soap operas and as a teacher. I had a lot of friends that were casting directors and they would often call me to be in short films by young directors who were about to graduate film school, or who had recently graduated. I was always open to help and act in their films without them paying me at all, because I found it so absurd to charge a fee of let’s say $50 dollars, when they could use that in production to make the film better in any way. Young filmmakers should have the opportunity to work with older actors; I think that is extremely important. You can’t always work with your friends or young actors; it is essential to learn to direct professional actors.

That’s why I’m so happy to launch the student workshop in my studio to present young talented actors on stage. It is important that we give these young artists the possibility to act on stage so they can succeed, feel, fail, shine, everything. It is necessary to give them support.

That’s wonderful and I think it is an education model that is so important in a kid’s life and his or her foundation as a person. The fact that kids should have access to the arts to be able to express themselves freely. It is beautiful what you do.

It has been very satisfactory and that is my life, you know? I’ve been an acting teacher since a very long time, more than 33 years and my husband more than 20 years. Even my daughter, who has been teaching for over 5 years, she was telling me yesterday: “Oh, mom, I’m so happy today because by acting group has advanced so much”. I felt so pleased to hear her talk in that way, you know? Being a teacher is a great way to be generous and it really makes you a better person.

Do you have any preference, between your work on stage and in film?

No, no, and I love television as well. Look, I say that it is like the different flavours in food. I love to taste a little bit of everything! (she laughs) I taste strange flavours and even dangerous flavours sometimes, but I like variety in my life. The truth is that I enjoy everything I do. If I’m teaching, I’m happy. If I’m acting, I’m happy. If I’m writing or reading, I’m happy. I don’t think life would have a purpose if you didn’t enjoy it.

What is next for you, Adriana! I know you were working with Juliette Binoche y Antonio Banderas in a film titled “The 33”. How was that experience.

It was incredible. We were almost three months in a small town in Chile called Copiapó and we all had to live together. We were a lot of people! (she laughs) It was a really personal and human experience, also a lot of fun. I spoke with so many people and we shared many ideas. The film has 20 main characters and that makes the shooting difficult and tiring because it means a lot of waiting since the shooting process is slow, but it gave us time to talk, admire the desert and think to ourselves: “What am I doing here? Why did God brought me here?

On the other hand, it was great to be a part of a story that is so…peculiar. The fact that 33 people survived, deep beneath the earth at 700 meters, is astonishing. Not even one of them died! It is such a peculiar story, I think. Also, we had the opportunity to talk to some of those people about life and death and it was beautiful. I really enjoyed the whole experience.

That’s why we have art, so we are forced to reflect and think.

Yes, that’s right my friend.

Thank you Adriana for talking to us today. It was a pleasure.

No, it was my pleasure. Thank you and let’s hope the movies to come as well as “Night has Settled” are a success.