Filth and Wisdom

She’s the most famous pop star in the world. Her music has been part of our lives for 25 years. Her looks are iconic and her chameleon style has inspired countless imitations. Now, Madonna has realized another dream of hers: becoming a film director. The Berlin Film Festival: she has just presented her first film Filth And Wisdom ( which she also wrote ) a humorous independent comedy starring Eugene Hutz (leader of gypsy punk band Gogol Bordello), Holly Weston and Vicky McClure as three outsiders who try to make ends meet in London. Vera Brozzoni caught up with the Material Girl.

How did you meet Eugene?
I stopped him down the street like a fan! When I offered him the part, he said he was tired of all the offers he was getting, but this one excited him. I convinced him to set his mind at ease for one year and devote himself to the film.

As a film director, did you ask for advice or did you start your directing career “like a virgin”?
I did get advice form people I admire, but opinions are like assholes - everyone has one. Jokes aside, I took very good advice, but in the end your film has to be your personal journey.

How did you like being a director?
I loved directing. The part I enjoyed most was the rehearsal, the magic that happens when you take the words you’ve written and hear them coming out of other people’s mouth. The only thing is, I was jealous that I had to watch Holly dancing and Eugene performing, and not perform myself. I think it was an adjustment, I worked only from my neck up.

How much of your initial career did you put in this film?
The theme I explore in the film is struggle. When I moved to New York I struggled to feed myself and to have a roof over my head, and I can still recall those moments as if it was yesterday. So I can completely relate to many moments in the film. Maybe from the outside it seems that I am closest to Holly, the ballet student turned pole-dancer, because I trained many years as a dancer and the harsh truth was that I wasn’t so special.
So I did other things to survive, although I didn’t resort to pole dancing.

And how do you feel about those hard times now?
Now in spite of the material success I’ve been enjoying for 25 years, I still struggle with the contradictions, the duality of life, I’m still struggling to find my way, to understand the difference between right and wrong, to see things for what they are, to not be tricked by illusions.

How did you choose the music? You even used Britney Spears.
A lot of music was inspired by Eugene. I fell in love with every CD he gave me. My favourite was a CD made by his uncle Alex Kopakov, the perfect fit for the film. As far as Britney is concerned, I only used music from people that I know, because they would lend me their songs and not charge me lots!
Britney is very generous, as for Ludacris and the other musicians. And of course I used my music, because I don’t charge myself.

What fascinates you about the gypsies?
I think secretly I want to be a gypsy, I love the idea of travelling around and playing music and letting life unfold in a spontaneous way. There’s a soulfulness and authenticity in all the gypsies I met, that I really admire. I hope that I embody a certain aspect of that in my work - not as much as I’d like, though.

Is it true that you’ll release Filth And Wisdom on the net?
We’re exploring that way. I think it’s quite an exciting and unconventional way to see a film and I love  to do things in an unconventional way!

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