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 The movie, adapted from the 1980 novel by J.M. Coetzee, stars
Oscar winner Mark Rylance as The Magistrate, a down-to-earth and
well-liked administrator of an isolated border outpost, which is
part of an unnamed empire.
When Depp's Colonel Joll arrives for an investigation of
potential future attacks by "The Barbarians", his brutal methods
with dealing with the supposed enemy shock The Magistrate.
The treatment of one young woman particularly affects him and
The Magistrate, who is never named, soon begins to question his
loyalties.
"It felt all too relevant to today in many ways in a lot of
different places in the world," Depp told a news conference at
the Venice Film Festival where the movie premiered on Friday.
Wearing dark metallic sunglasses, described as "menacing" by
Depp, Joll from the outset wants to make The Magistrate feel
uncomfortable.
"I find the most interesting thing about bad guys throughout
history ... those people don't wake up in the morning and while
they're shaving swear to themselves 'I'm going to be the meanest
worst human being, I'm going to cause as much havoc as
possible'," Depp said.
"(Joll) seemed very different to me than a bad guy ... If you
try to think how is a man like that built, how do they arrive at
that place ... Joll is to me a series of very strong protective
walls that he's built ... to escape feeling."
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In an interview with Reuters, director Ciro Guerra said that when he
first embarked on the project, "it felt like an allegory of a
distant place and a distant time".
"And by the time it’s finished it is now a film about today and here
and now."
Rylance's Magistrate is nearing retirement when his world is turned
upside down. He appears helpless but soon takes matter into his own
hands even if it costs him.
"This film has the potential to raise a lot of compassion and
empathy and yes, certainly, when I first encountered the story it
made me ask a lot of questions," Rylance told Reuters.
"Waiting for the Barbarians" is one of 21 films competing for the
Golden Lion prize at the festival, where Depp's daughter Lily-Rose
Depp premiered her film "The King" on Monday.
"It's just amazing. The only thing it can do is bring a smile to my
face," Depp said when asked about his daughter's acting career. "I'm
very proud of her, she's impressive. She's my god, she and my son,
they're are my gods."
(Reporting by Marie-Louise Gumuchian and Hanna Rantala; Editing by
Alison Williams)
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