Joey Magidson
Leonie Benesch really broke through to me with The Teachers’ Lounge, though with September 5, she’s poised to truly be introduced to American audiences in a much more notable way. Her crucial supporting turn is part of the marrow that holds the movie together. Truly, it’s wonderful work. She’s going places, to be sure, and going there in a hurry. I recently spent some time chatting with Benesch about the film. Today, that discussion comes your way.
In my review of September 5 here, I praised Benesch alongside the central cast like so:
The performances across the board are strong, with our four central characters really shining. John Magaro is ostensibly our lead, which is a plus since this is his best turn to date. Watching him become a more and more confident producer is captivating. Magaro’s everyman quality makes it easy to root for him. Peter Sarsgaard’s ABC executive exudes confidence, even when he’s in just as over his head as everyone else. Leonie Benesch’s local translator is the heart and soul of the film in many ways. Her character is the closest to an outsider, so she becomes the audience surrogate. Benesch is able to elevate the movie by expansing its focus. Ben Chaplin is rock solid as the no-nonsense head of operations, making a character more memorable than he otherwise might have been. Supporting performances include Daniel Adeosun, Rony Herman, Zinedine Soualem, Benjamin Walker, and more, though the main quartet are the highlights.
Below, you can hear my conversation with Benesch. She talks about her fellow cast, the film itself, and also the industry on the whole. It’s a wonderful and wide-ranging discussion with a lovely talent who is about to really break out. Now that September 5 is in theaters and beginning its theatrical run, you can see just what folks have been raving about on the festival circuit for months now. It’s one of the year’s best and an absolute must-see, in no small part due to Benesch’s work.
Here now is my interview with September 5 co-star Leonie Benesch. Enjoy:
September 5 is now playing in theaters!
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