Scottish filmmaker Lynne Ramsay, known for her bold directing style, shared a unique moment from the production of her latest film Die My Love during a BFI London Film Festival Screen Talk. Faced with rapidly fading light, Ramsay urgently adapted a key scene by asking actors to interact with the environment in an unexpected way, showcasing her adaptive filmmaking experience.
With only minutes left to capture a critical proposal moment on camera, Ramsay’s quick thinking led to a radical shift in how the scene was shot, prioritizing immediacy and authenticity over traditional staging.
On-the-Spot Collaboration Between Director and Cinematographer
Ramsay described conferring with cinematographer Seamus McGarvey as the situation unfolded. She recalled,
“I crawl up to him, and I’m like, what we going to do?”
Lynne Ramsay said. Both quickly decided to capture the scene by lowering themselves to the actors’ level in a field, which resulted in the marriage proposal taking place right there among the grass.
“We both look at each other and go, this is it… He gets down to their level in this field, and that’s how he asked to marry her.”
Ramsay added, illustrating their shared commitment to seizing the moment creatively.
Robert Pattinson and Jennifer Lawrence’s Trust in Ramsay’s Vision
The director then relayed how she approached lead actors Robert Pattinson and Jennifer Lawrence with the spontaneous change, requesting that they crawl and roll through the grass to achieve the scene’s needed effect.
“Can you just crawl like animals in the grass and roll around?”
Ramsay asked. She noted that both stars were receptive, asking,
“Are you sure about this?”
but ultimately placing their trust in her instincts during this intense filmmaking experience with Robert Pattinson and his co-star.
Reflecting on Past Collaborations: Joaquin Phoenix in You Were Never Really Here
Ramsay also reflected on her previous intense working relationship with Oscar-winning actor Joaquin Phoenix during the 2017 thriller You Were Never Really Here. She recalled how Phoenix had no prior experience handling firearms before the shoot, adding to the film’s challenges.
“He’s never played anything like this, and guns or anything,”
Ramsay said, describing Phoenix as totally terrifying when they first met. Despite initial nervousness and awkward questions like “Are you left handed?”, their collaboration became deeply creative.
During a demanding shoot in upstate New York, Ramsay remembered Phoenix’s willingness to take risks, citing an incident where he unexpectedly fell down stairs as cameras rolled, showing his commitment by simply trying. On the last night of filming, Phoenix even proposed extending the project with the same crew to create something new, saying,
“Should we just keep going and get this with the same crew and make a different film?”
according to Ramsay.
Overcoming Production Obstacles and Festival Triumphs
The director described additional hurdles encountered during You Were Never Really Here’s production, including skepticism from a French financier who doubted the film’s chances at Cannes. Despite this, Ramsay completed remaining scenes in one week, and the film ultimately won awards for best actor and screenplay at the prestigious festival. A final challenge involved a sound mixing dispute when a projectionist deemed the audio beyond the limits, yet the film succeeded against the odds.
Ramsay’s Early Work and Return to Glasgow
Looking back at her debut feature Ratcatcher (1999), Ramsay revealed the production’s ambitious efforts, including constructing a real canal due to pollution of the actual location. Reflecting on that experience today, she said,
“I don’t think I’d do that”
now but acknowledged the youthful ambition and beauty in those early efforts. She also disclosed that she is developing a new project set in Glasgow, revisiting the city that was central to her acclaimed first film.
Finding Emotion Through Small, Meaningful Details
Throughout her discussion, Ramsay emphasized that conveying emotion through subtle, significant details is integral to her filmmaking philosophy. She cited an example from Ratcatcher, describing a scene where a mother mends her stockings because she cannot afford replacements, illustrating love through simple actions.
Describing herself as a dreamer, Ramsay concluded with the reminder that
“You have to be tough to be a dreamer.”
