DIVA sat down with the director behind the new hit film starring Thomasin McKenzie and Anne Hathaway
BY ELLA GAUCI, IMAGE BY NEON
Best known for his 2016 film Lady Macbeth, William Oldroyd has taken to the directorial chair once again for his unmissable new film Eileen. Based on Ottessa Moshfegh’s novel, the film follows the life of introverted outcast Eileen who becomes utterly infatuated with the new psychologist, Rebecca, at the juvenile detention centre she works at.
Starring Thomasin McKenzie and Anne Hathaway, this dark noir film is partially an ode to cinematic greats like Alfred Hitchcock. Its twisted storyline and unforgettable performances are part of its allure, however, we wanted to know more about how Oldroyd brought this book to life.
We sat down with William Oldroyd to find out more about how Eileen came into being.
When you read the script or book for the first time what was the first thing that you were drawn to?
Thomasin and I both agreed that she was a complex individual and that’s what we found so compelling. On some projects, you just have a script you can mine for information, but with this, we had a Bible before. We had the script but we also had Ottessa’s book about Eileen which had so much more detail and colour.
The book is so trapped in Eileen’s mind – what was it like trying to get that onto the screen?
The obvious way is through voiceover. It’s easy to be seduced by that idea because what Ottessa writes is so brilliant. But actually, when we shot the film you just see Thomasin on the screen because what she conveys is so clear that actually [using voiceover] would be like putting a hat on a hat.
Eileen’s world explodes when Rebecca arrives – how did you read the relationship between the pair?
In the book, it’s very clear that Eileen has no friends, family, any role models or lovers. She’s deeply sexually frustrated which is manifested in a lot of her very vivid inner life. There’s definitely an idolisation and obsession that Eileen has with Rebecca.
What were some of your favourite quirks that Eileen had?
I like the fact that until Rebecca comes along she’s not particularly engaged with the world. Once Rebecca comes in, that all changes. There’s one moment I love where Eileen is preparing for the date and she shaves her big toe.
Eileen will be in cinemas from 1 December 2023.
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