Screenwriter Guillermo Arriaga Ignites the Screen in His Directorial Debut

Jennifer Lawrence and J.D. Padro in THE BURNING PLAIN, a Magnolia Pictures release. Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures.

Oscar, take note. Great film writing is not dead. In fact, it’s very much alive and thriving in the hands of accomplished film scribe Guillermo Arriaga. The writer’s pronounced abilities are only heightened by the beating heart that pulsates between his thumb and index finger each time he holds a pencil. But we already know this, as do those who have recognized the screenwriter for his past triumphs, including Amores Perros (2000), 21 Grams (2003), The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada (2005), and Babel (2006) – the latter two earned him the Best Screenplay award at Cannes and an Oscar nomination, respectively. What might have been questioned was whether Arriaga’s artistic capabilities could thrive in a director’s chair the same way they do on paper. All doubts are laid to rest. Just watch The Burning Plain and see for yourself.

Kim Basinger and Joaquim de Almeida in THE BURNING PLAIN, a Magnolia Pictures release. Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures.

In what is unquestionably one of 2009′s “films to watch,” Arriaga proves in his feature directorial debut that a dynamic vision is the only requirement to make a great film. In true Arriaga form, the writer/director seamlessly weaves several plotlines into a tapestry that links characters together, resulting in changed lives and deep introspection. At first glance, their associations aren’t clear, but as the stories’ links take shape, so do the relationships that guide the heart of the film.

In Oregon, Sylvia, a restaurant manager, finds momentary comfort within a series of fleeting relationships. Struggling to manage her own internal conflicts that are rooted in sexual tension, Sylvia is confronted by a mysterious stranger who presents her with a piece of her past that she buried long ago, but never forgot.

In New Mexico, Mariana, a teenaged girl, cares for her family while her mother lives a hidden life. Following a tragic turn in their lives, Mariana and the determined Santiago form a forbidden bond.

In Mexico, young Maria is raised by her father and his friend. All three lives take life-changing turns when an accident forces Maria to reluctantly confront a piece of her own past that she never knew.

Charlize Theron in THE BURNING PLAIN, a Magnolia Pictures release. Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures.

In a film with several distinct storylines that are rooted in each other, each element Arriaga presents on screen serves a purpose that helps the audience clearly see the larger picture take shape. In the end, The Burning Plain is about painful confrontations, internal strengths and weaknesses, and the physically and emotionally torn relationships between parents and their children. Interpreting these themes is a fully competent cast, lead by Academy Award-winner Charlize Theron (Monster), who breathes life into Sylvia, despite the past that she left for dead and never expected to confront again. In Theron’s capable hands, Sylvia manages a 180-degree arc, but not without initial resistance. About the character, Theron notes, “She’s not naturally the kind of person to look into the mirror and say, ‘Okay, these are things that you have to deal with.’ But by the end of the film, that’s where she has to be.”

Theron, who also served as executive producer, infuses much thought and depth into her performance. About her abilities, Arriaga said, “Charlize is a very experienced actor, but also a very intelligent one.”

Also bringing life to a complex character is Kim Basinger, an Academy Award winner in her own right for 1997′s L.A. Confidential. As Gina, Mariana’s conflicted mother, Basinger infuses a scarred character with a delicate sensibility that is fully realized in the most difficult moments in her life, in which she seems to betray her family. In this role, Basinger continues to mature on screen, and her performance is worthy of a Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination.

Helping to round out the ensemble cast are John Corbett (My Big Fat Greek Wedding), Joaquim De Almeida (Clear and Present Danger), Jose Maria Yazpik (Las Vueltas del Citrillo), and Jennifer Lawrence (The Poker House), among several others. As the troubled Mariana, 19-year-old Lawrence firmly establishes herself as a face to watch. For this film, she was recognized at the Venice Film Festival with the Marcello Mastroianni Award, which is given to an emerging actor or actress.

The Burning Plain was shot over an eight-week period in coastal Oregon and the New Mexico desert, two locations with contrasting terrains that frame storylines, which – on the surface – similarly stand in stark contrast to each other. The images of the diverse backdrops are quite vivid and poignant. In an unusual move, Arriaga worked with two cinematographers to capture the varied landscapes. Oscar-winner Robert Elswit (There Will Be Blood) served as the “chief” director of photography, shooting all segments in the vast desert, which comprised the majority of the film’s settings. Due to scheduling conflicts, Elswit was unable to complete the film, so the challenge of capturing Oregon’s images was passed onto the very capable John Toll, who won back-to-back Oscars for his work on Legends of the Fall (1994) and Braveheart (1995).

Director Guillermo Arriaga on the set of THE BURNING PLAIN, a Magnolia Pictures release. Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures.

With these clear images in his mind, Arriaga developed the idea for the film over 15 years before he actually put pen to paper in 2005 (meaning that the original concept was born around the same time as Lawrence, who played one of the film’s most crucial parts). Not looking to rush a good idea, Arriaga notes, “You have to wait until the story is mature enough to be told.”

In the screenwriter’s trademark style, The Burning Plain plays out in a non-linear format, presenting the audience with different stages of all storylines at different times. In this way, Arriaga’s craftsmanship shines brightly. In most other writers’ hands, this type of format is not often achieved without confusing the audience. Yet, Arriaga is able to successfully implant the stories and all their fragmented parts in our minds without confusion. There, they are catalogued, waiting for their turns to be fitted into the larger puzzle.

Arriaga admits that his writing style parallels the style in which most people tell stories. Often, people don’t tell stories in sequence, so he feels his approach is quite natural. Many writers are quick to err on the side of formulas and structure, but Arriaga doesn’t operate that way. Without an outline, a solid understanding of the characters, research, or even an idea of what the ending might be, he allows his gut to guide his writing. This all sounds like a recipe for disaster, but Arriaga notes, “A concept helps me contain the work.”

With regard to the physical writing process, Arriaga writes his screenplays non-linearly, just as the stories appear on screen. Producer Laurie MacDonald recognizes Arriaga’s mastery of storytelling. “It was both a creative opportunity and a challenge to work with an artist of Guillermo’s stature. The normal rules of screenplay development really don’t apply …”

Though he gained acclaim as a screenwriter, Arriaga admits that he was always interested in directing. However, he lacked the technical knowledge of filmmaking. It was a quote by Albert Einstein he found on a t-shirt that inspired him to pursue this new course. “Imagination is more important than knowledge.”

Producer Walter Parkes supported Arriaga’s new role as director because of his vision and interpretation. He said, “In some ways, it was a very easy decision to support Guillermo as the director of the movie. His approach to the material is so singular, so personal, and so specific that it is hard to imagine someone else interpreting it.”

The same man who wrote such dark and brooding films as Amores Perros, 21 Grams, and Babel views his own work differently than most. He said, “I think all the films I have written are extremely optimistic,” noting that the characters who are often affected and surrounded by dire situations always have the opportunity to return to hope. The Burning Plain is no different. The film opens in theatres this Friday.