Steven Spielberg revealed that his mother, Leah, who died in 2017, and his father, Arnold, who died in 2020, were very supportive of him making a film about their family.
Ahead of the release of his semi-autobiographical film, The Fabelmans, the 75-year-old Hollywood legend joked that his late parents encouraged him to draw on his own experiences and upbringing for inspiration.
“They were actually nagging me, ‘When are you going to tell that story about our family, Steve?’ And so that’s something that got them very excited,” he reflected.
Continuing their legacy: Steven Spielberg revealed that his mother, Leah, who died in 2017, and his father, Arnold, who died in 2020, were very supportive of him making a film about their family; seen in 1989
He continued, “I started thinking seriously, if I were to do one movie that I haven’t done yet, something that I really want to do on a very personal atomic level, what would it be?” And there was only one story I really wanted to tell.
The Fabelmans is his “first coming of age story” he’s “ever told” after directing some of the most beloved films of all time, including ET, Jurassic Park, Jaws, Saving Private Ryan and many more. others.
Spielberg, who is one of the most prolific filmmakers around, went on to explain to The Hollywood Reporter what he hopes viewers will get from his latest work.
Sweet: Ahead of the release of his semi-autobiographical film, The Fabelmans, the 75-year-old Hollywood legend joked that his late parents encouraged him to draw on his own experiences and upbringing for inspiration (seen with his mother in 2009)
“They were actually nagging me, ‘When are you going to tell that story about our family, Steve?’ And so that was something they were very interested in,’ he reflected (pictured in 1988)
Watching the film, he wants people to think about “when does a young person in a family start to see their parents as human beings”.
“In my case, because of what happened between the ages of 7 and 18, I started appreciating my mom and dad not as parents but as real people,” said the father of seven children.
Seth Rogen, who plays Bennie Loewy, a fictional character based on Spielberg’s “funny uncle” father figure Bernie, in real life, recently revealed that there was “a lot of crying on set” and that filming was “a very emotional experience”.
First Look: A trailer and first look image for The Fabelmans have been released following the film’s world premiere on day three of the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival in September
Dream big: The trailer opens with the words ‘movies are dreams you’ll never forget’ spoken by Michelle Williams’ character Mitzi Fabelman to her young aspiring filmmaker son Sammy (pictured)
Strive: As an older teenager, Sammy, played by newcomer Gabriel LaBelle (pictured), is seen navigating the pursuit of his dream of becoming a successful filmmaker
“It’s very directly based on his life and pretty much everything that happens in the movie is something that happened to him,” the 40-year-old actor said at Hilarity for Charity’s 10th annual anniversary, according to People.
When he asked the director “did this happen in real life”, he replied that Spielberg answered yes “one hundred percent of the time”.
After the screening at the Toronto International Film Festival, Steven said of the film according to THR, “This movie is a way to bring my mom and dad back.
Telling the story: The film stars four-time Oscar nominee Michelle Williams (pictured right) as Sammy’s artistic mother Mitzi
All stars: Paul Dano stars as Sammy’s successful scientist father, Burt (pictured left)
“And it also brought my sisters closer to me than I ever thought possible. It was worth making the movie.
Director Leah’s mother died in 2017 aged 97 while his father died in 2020 aged 103.
The film’s diary line reads: “Growing up in post-WWII Arizona, a young man named Sammy Fabelman uncovers a heartbreaking family secret and explores how the power of movies can help him see the truth. .”
On screens: The Fabelmans is in cinemas in the UK and Ireland from 27 January 2023
It is written by Steven and Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Tony Kushner.
The film is produced by three-time Oscar nominee Kristie Macosko Krieger, Steven and Tony.
While the film stars Gabriel as 16-year-old aspiring filmmaker Sammy, four-time Oscar nominee Michelle Williams as his artistic mother Mitzi, Paul Dano as his scientist father in success, Burt, Seth Rogen as Bennie Loewy, Burt’s best friend. and honorary “uncle” of the Fabelman children, and Oscar-nominated Judd Hirsch as Mitzi’s Uncle Boris.
The ensemble cast includes Oscar nominee Jeannie Berlin as Sammy’s paternal grandmother, Hadassah Fabelman, Julia Butters as Sammy’s sister, Reggie; Robin Bartlett as Sammy’s maternal grandmother, Tina Schildkraut, and Keeley Karsten as Sammy’s sister, Natalie.
The Fabelmans is in cinemas in the UK and Ireland from 27 January 2023.