Jude Law Lara Lychagina Artyom Kagan on how we began on what has happened in 2020 on how new technologies to appreciate life more and on playing with time serve people W o r l d bridge winter winter 2020-21 the

Sacha Baron Cohen I’ve never really done any interviews as myself WINTER 2020/21 Content WINTER 2020/21

Sacha Baron Cohen

Illustration: Vera Zashikhina

164. Editor's letter

162. Interview

161. Sacha Baron Cohen. How to laugh at the whole world and stay alive

155. Jude Law. How we began to appreciate life more

144. Artem Kagan. How new technologies serve people

143. The «Productive Seascapes» project by Nicolas Floc’h

168 THE WORLD BRIDGE 167 THE WORLD BRIDGE WINTER 2020/21

Editor's letter The Garden of Forking Paths or Controverses of Time

Since time immemorial, man has enjoyed playing. Always. All kinds of games, such as love and war, diplomacy and drama, cuisine and hunger, philosophy and child’s play, to name just a few. Meanwhile, the most favourite and never- changing one has been playing with time, with variations beyond count. Here are just two of them, quite opposite in meaning: the “game” of the Amazoni- an Amondaus, having no idea of time as such in their minds and no word for it in their language and the Borges World Model, described in “The Garden of Forking Paths”, with countless time sequences containing all possibilities imaginable. In the meantime, we have found ourselves in a world in which the game rules of the Amazonian tribe and the Borges’ labyrinth have inter- mingled with each other. We seem to have got into a time lapse where the clock hands have stopped dead, and the world has sunk into a null-gravity timelessness. On the other hand, now, we have a feeling of a new strength. It is as if we could do anything while time has stopped in tracks, i.e., outrun those ahead of us or catch up with our own selves and find what we have lost or give our selves what we have amassed. The year 2020 has become an alternative history for us. It has given us a chance to make a fresh start, get rid of useless texts, correct mis- takes, and write new narratives. It has also become a totally Oriental-style comforting symbol of silence and quiet. Just a while ago, our todays were just like our yesterdays, with hardly any difference to notice. Now, that ideal age of linear time and good chances to avoid getting lost in labyrinths is over and gone.

When that world collapsed, we found ourselves in Ts'ui Pên’s labyrinth in the Garden of Forking Paths, each being an image of the world still unfinished, but per- fect nonetheless. What kind of choice shall we make? This is for the year 2021 to show. Man is always free to choose which path to take even lying under the guillotine blade, still having a whole eyewink to choose an answer to the question “What am I here for?” from a variety of options. In 2020, we have been “isolated” from travelling, socializing, destroying, or creating things in the world, actually, very tired of our frenzied activities. All this time, we seem to have been in a ‘Confined Space Zone,’ either created by ourselves, or left Lara Lychagina behind by aliens from outer space after a Strugatsky-style roadside picnic. We are still in search of the Wish-Granting Golden Sphere, yet knowing not what wish to make. Maybe, we should wish to stop being stalkers and recall how easy it is to be just humans living not in “The Zone” but on good old Earth, in our Home secure enough for us to take off all masks and gloves. For ever. Just to live our lives. Then, we should realize that 2020 has been not only a time of innumerable losses but also a path of opportunities we are still unaware of.

Editor-in-Chief

165 164 WINTER 2020/21 I n

The World Bridge proudly presents Nelle Holmes, a member of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association andt a voter of the Golden Global Awards.

She has had heart-to-hearte talks with such cinema e PART celebrities as Angelina Jolie, George Clooney, Caitlyn r Jenner, to name just a few, and written for Vogue, GQ, Snob, The Rake, The Hollywood Reporter, and Tatler. Now, Nelle Holmes will be writing The Chronicles of Hollywood, our new column about the life of the main v US entertainment industry’s symbol. i e

163 w162 SACHA BARON COHEN WINTER 2020/21

October 21, 2020 Sacha Baron Cohen Via Zoom

Interview — Nellee Holmes

Borat: Subsequent Moviefilm — Delivery of Prodigious Bribe to American Regime for Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan Amazon Prime

The Trial of the Chicago 7 Netflix

Nellee Holmes. We’re living in tough times in a strange world, and Borat proves it. What do you do in your personal and professional lives to improve your wellness and avoid bad vibes? How would you advise us to manage our emo- tions and mindsets? Sacha Baron Cohen. I don’t think I am the person to advise anyone on managing anything. Well, I’m friendly with a surfer, who specializes in big waves, and once, he gave me an excellent bit of advice, which is, when you are stressed, to breathe in and out through your nose. Several times in the movie, I was quite stressed, and found it a good way to lower my heart rate. So, it’s all about breathing. (Laughs)

N.H. You use your chance to raise your voice on political, racial, and other is- sues. Do you have a hope that, with all the current public movements, the on-going pandemic, and everything else happening now, human society is undergoing a reset so needed to become better than it has been before?

160 THE WORLD BRIDGE 161 SACHA BARON COHEN WINTER 2020/21 The thing is, I had known about Abbie Hoffman yes, that was it, and he let me go. I went away for many years. The topic of my undergraduate and hid in a bathroom for five hours, listening to thesis was the role of Jews in the Black Civil Rights the sounds various conservative men made while Movement during the1960s. Abbie was one of the answering nature calls. radical Jewish students supporting the movement Finally, I was apprehended by the secret service in the southern United States and got involved and soon found myself surrounded by agents, with the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Com- police officers of all kinds, and event security men. S.B.C. It’s hard to say. Firstly, I’m a comedian, an actor, but not a philosopher or an academic. mittee (SNCC). When I was 20, the head of that The main thing for me was to keep my incognito I wish that, as a society, we would listen to academics and experts rather than to demagogues. organization, a man called Bob Moses, gave me one since if I had got identified and the media had As someone who’s had some fame, I’m reluctant to espouse any views. I do think we’re about of his rare interviews. learnt about my appearance at CPAC, it would have to face increasingly hard times as more and more people will be dying from COVID 19. A lot Talking about The Spy last year, I mentioned that been too big a story. So, I tried to prevent all those of this grief is obviously due to politicians’ refusing to listen to experts. Will any good come my late father had been fascinated by Eli Cohen officers from getting my ID for as long as possible. out of this awful period that has beset humanity? I hope so, but there will be so much more and had a book about him. A while ago, I found At one point, there were about 12 of them around suffering and so many more deaths that I cannot feel sure of it. On top of everything, the out that Dad had had a book about Abbie Hoffman me, demanding to see my ID. Trying to stall them coming election is so uncertain that America may end up in a far worse situation than now, too. So, my father respected those two men, and I as long as I could, I asked them to verify they were depending on its results. So, it’s hard for me to feel optimistic at the moment. grew up with books about them on a bookshelf in indeed law enforcement officers by showing their our house. This is my connection with the story of IDs first. One of them pointed to a massive badge N.H. Borat shows hatred, bigotry, and other Abbie Hoffman. on a string around his neck and asked if I was deeply rooted evil attitudes man satisfied. I wondered how I was to know it was a had always had before social media N.H. How did you feel crashing the CPAC? real ID and suchlike. Well, they kept on asking for appeared. You’ve been very critical N.H. What did you want to achieve through Was your heart pounding? Giuliani says my ID, and I finally said it was in my shoe. They of social media, Silicon Valley, and what Borat and the sequel? it was a fabrication. Could you say if did not want to mess with my footwear and let me they all have been doing to us. Do you S.B.C. This time, my purpose was to have the sequel there have been attempts to prevent this be for a while. Soon, a superior supervising officer think there’s nothing we can do about it? released before the election. Ever since Trump episode from getting into the film? Have showed up and ordered his men to get my ID, no What, do you think, must happen, or how became President, I have been deeply concerned you had any interaction with Giuliani or matter where it was, but they never got it anyway. must Silicon Valley change? about his undermining our democratic institutions his people? Could you say anything else (Laughs) S.B.C. Well, in essence, very few people control the in- and incremental sliding towards autocracy. I am about all that? formation billions all over the world receive. That worried about the upcoming election and fear that S.B.C. Well, I would say Giuliani was definitely concerned N.H. You’ve managed to pull off so many is unfair and undemocratic as those people aren’t even if Trump loses, he may try to stay in power. enough about the incident to call the police and unbelievable tricks, which were, voted for, cannot be replaced, and aren’t account- So, this movie was meant to become both have them raid and search my hotel room after- no doubt, all carefully planned and able for what they do. What we’re witnessing is a the second funniest movie after the first Borat wards, which, generally, cannot be done without a prepared. You certainly don’t have to technological revolution far more impactful than and a warning of the dangerous slide into warrant. I have no idea what he told them, but they give away all your secrets, but could the Industrial Revolution once was. Back then, autocracy away from the wonderful ideals did just that. you say something about how things like there were decades for governments to catch up of American democracy. living with two ultra-conservatives are with the changes brought about, such as urbaniza- N.H. Did he know it was you? usually arranged? How do you find and tion, crime, child abuse, and prostitution. It took S.B.C. I let him speak for himself in the interviews he’s contact such people? How do you set up governments many years to introduce legislation N.H. My congratulations! I think it’s an been giving. In regards to the CPAC thing, it was everything? curbing the excesses of the industrialists that were amazing film and very prescient, just like quite a challenge because the Vice-President was S.B.C. Well, this was the most challenging movie I’d ever at the forefront of the changes. Borat. Let’s talk about Abbie Hoffman. scheduled to speak. His security level is the same made. On the one hand, Borat was my world-fa- As to the current technological revolution, first, Did you know anything about him as the President’s, so I decided to infiltrate CPAC mous character. On the other, I wanted real people everyone assumed it would be all positive. Now, beforehand? as a Donald Trump lookalike. For that, I had to to be in the new movie. So at first, it seemed just we’ve realized it has some very negative effects too. S.B.C. It was quite incredible. While playing Abbie Hoff- wear a 54-inch fat suit and a fake head. It was quite impossible. Then two years ago, I was invited to do The governments around the world are trying to man, famous as I was, I never spoke about any po- terrifying because there was the highest 3rd level something with Kanye West on Midterm Elections catch up, but it will take legislators quite a while to litical issues in public, even though I did feel very TSA security check to go through. I had made sure Day at Jimmy Kimmel’s Show. The plan was to do make a real change, which I believe has to happen. passionate about politics and could not help letting there were no wires or anything else in the fat a sketch in which Kanye and I would pretend to Regarding social media, I would say they have done it come out in my work. Once, I gave a speech at suit that could set off a metal detector, but when a have been preparing his infiltrating the White more to change for the better in the past few weeks the Anti-Defamation League about the dangers of TSA officer put one over my chest, it beeped. I was House and Donald Trump, which included wearing than in the past few years. A lot of that is down to conspiracy theories, lies, and hate spread via the asked what I had on me. I said it was a pacemaker. the MAGA caps and things like that. When I called a wonderful movie called Stop Hate for Profit, so, I Internet. It was interesting as it almost mirrored The officer started wanding me from top to toe. Kanye, he said he wanted to get the approval of the would say there is hope. what was going on with me playing Abbie Hoffman When he got down to my belly, the detector gave President, which, of course, was not possible. So, in his court appearance. That was the time for him another beep. The man asked me what was there, I had to come up with a new sketch for Jimmy Kim- to stop clowning, being a prankster, and to express and I didn't know what to say. You know, having a mel in a real rush. I asked a friend of mine, Chris his political opinions clearly. That trial was unjust, pacemaker near the heart is OK, but what on earth Rock, for advice, and he suggested doing Borat. so I felt a real connection with Abbie. I read his could be near the belly? There was an awkward Well, I hadn’t played the character for 12 years and books, listened to his speeches, and tried to emu- silence. Then he looked at me and asked if that was going to shoot a sequel later, but Chris insisted late his accent. was the wire for the pacemaker. Relieved, I said I go ahead and do it. So, in the mad panic of that

158 THE WORLD BRIDGE 159 SACHA BARON COHEN WINTER 2020/21 N.H. Speaking of tyrants like Borat and a better chance to be elected in other countries. Trump, do you think it’s just a strange Secondly, I do believe this trend of demagogues coincidence that such like-minded taking power is not coincidental but correlated night, I managed to find a costume, a fake mustache, get some field producers to interview people, leaders as Bolsonaro in Brazil, Maduro with the changes the Internet wrought in social and contact the original Borat writing team. The next day, we met and went out to film the thing. in Venezuela, Kim Jong Un in North media. Democracy relies on shared truths, while At the end of the day, I realized Borat was the perfect character for mocking Trump, being his Korea, or the one in the Philippines, autocracies rely on shared lies. Social media have slightly more extreme version. They are both misogynists and racists. Both support anti-Semites, depicted in the first part of Borat, got become the most effective propaganda machine could not care less about democracy, and hold outdated views. On top of everything, both of them into power, and all of them disclaim any in history, being ideally suited to spread those are very laughable characters. criticism of their actions as fake news? lies far and wide, far wider and far faster than What the President and some of his supporters say publicly is often very extreme. I was wonder- S.B.C. Donald Trump was brought into power by fake truths can go. So, democratic leaders are always ing how to satirize that. Talking to some Trump supporters in the disguise of Borat, I realized that news stories that persuaded the Americans to vote at a disadvantage because the truth is never with his help, I could get them to reveal how much further they were willing to go. So, at that gun for him in the first place. It’s been his brilliant exciting but often too dull to be click-bait. The rally in Washington State, I got that crowd to agree to slice up journalists in the Saudi manner. move and an Orwellian stroke of genius to co-opt, on-going technological revolution is controlled by I wanted to emphasize America’s approaching the edge of democracy beyond which is falling into control, and use this very phrase against legitimate a handful of people not interested in preserving the abyss of autocracy, which will entail fighting free speech, attacking journalists not only verbal- journalists. He’s been using the famous rule of democracy. As a result, over the last five years, ly but physically as well, and even imprisoning people challenging the regime. As a member of propaganda to repeat a lie again and again until it we’ve seen seemingly illogical votes when the a journalistic association, I know that your colleagues are often threatened nowadays, so I brought becomes ingrained into people’s psyches, so even- populus voted against their own interests. Politi- out my own fake news journalist to make America and the world laugh while preparing to face the tually, they start dismissing the truth as fake news. cal analysts find it very surprising. I think there’s danger of the next few weeks. Once again, I’m a comedian, an actor, and a writer. a symbiotic relationship between social media I’m neither a political philosopher nor an academic, and autocratic leaders. The next few weeks will N.H. You know, I found Borat so astounding that I even somehow cut my mouth, even though I once almost did a Ph.D. in history. determine whether the U.S. remains a democracy covering it while watching the film. Nevertheless, I would like to say two things. Firstly, or slips into autocracy. I do believe we all must I can’t but wonder how you feel and what’s your adrenaline level at the end America is still the most influential country and raise our voices against it. I am a comedian and of the day. Are you amazed at your ability to do things like the women’s democracy in the world, so when an authoritarian a film-maker, and my form of protest is releasing clinic and the debutante ball? How do you manage to do all that and get leader or demagogue is elected here, it has ripple my movie now. This is the only way of standing away with it? effects internationally, giving similar demagogues for democracy I have. Where are the cameras located? S.B.C. Well, the cameras are almost always visible, as people we work with want to be on television. In terms of the adrenaline, those days were just exhausting. I would get up at four or five in the morning, and the shooting day over, I would do a lot of writing and producing. So, for a year, I had to survive on four or five hours’ sleep a day, facing the usual actors’ challenges of preparing to play my character, remembering my lines - a lot more than in any other movie - and being fully prepared for any question anyone N.H. Abbie Hoffman is both a treasured might have asked me. An actor usually learns two or three pages of text a day. To play Borat, and tragic figure. His end was tragic, no doubt. That’s what I realized I had to memorize up to a hundred pages of dialogue within one day. The character himself reading about him. How do you explain that? must be made fully three-dimensional with no chinks in the armor so nobody could realize S.B.C. He was a very complicated, contradictory, and incredibly charismatic person. He had this intuitive understanding of how to play both in a crowd and in a courtroom. He was also ready he is a fake. That means my preparation was from knowing everything about the mythical Ka- to risk his life to improve society. That’s what I found most chilling watching that news con- zakhstan we had made up to knowing everything about Borat’s family, friends, acquaintances, ference, at which he was so hilarious, joking with the reporters all the time. At one point, he and each member of this imaginary country’s government. was asked what he was prepared to sacrifice. He said, “My life”. That was the price he would I also made sure my smell was abhorrent enough for everyone around to know they were in pay if necessary. the presence of somebody from a different civilization. Hard indeed was it to be around me – When researching him, I had a voice coach I’d met on Martin Scorsese's Hugo - the legendary so repulsive was the stench. (Laughs) Besides, everything on me, down to the underwear, was Tim Monich. Over the last 60 years, he’s done all the incredible voice coaching work for authentic. Everything in my wallet and pockets at any point would be completely consistent Tarantino, Scorsese, and many others. I wanted to make sure my “Abbie Hoffman accent” was in keeping with the character as my idea is creating a fully believable character impossible to perfect. It's complicated enough containing Bostonian and Californian flavours as Abbie was expose. I must say it was the hardest ever acting challenge for me. In one scene, I stayed in educated at Brandeis and Berkeley. I listened carefully to his voice, its rhythm and tone before character for about 125 hours in a row. I even slept as Borat in Borat’s pajamas sharing and after his imprisonment. I was saddened to hear the sound of a broken man on the radio a house with those two men. I realized that to get to know them, reveal their humanity, have show he did after his release. I don't know what happened to him in prison. I could just hear the movie progress, and get the needed plot points, his confident personality crumbling, especially on the first couple of nights, when he spoke I would have to remain Borat for five days non-stop, in a variety of situations and locations, about the horrifying conditions he had experienced. It is, indeed, a tragic story. like that gun rally I went to with them in the end. He used to be a real inspiration. I was particularly impressed by those seemingly absurd I think it was the longest and deepest immersion in the character I had ever experienced. I stunts of his, which, no doubt, were meant to achieve certain political effects. He reminded remember on the second night, after locking my bedroom door, I kept on walking around the me of a drama form called the buffoonery, a medieval form of comedy, once a year performed room in Borat’s clumsy manner looking for my toothbrush. After about ten minutes, having by dispossessed outcasts, often living outside settlements, when they were allowed into found no toothbrush, I suddenly realized I was still being Borat. I could not get out of the villages and towns. In their shows, they would mock those in power. So, it was an early and character even being all by myself. So, I had to remind myself who I really was. often quite harsh form of political satire. In my view, Abbie acted just like a buffoon.

156 THE WORLD BRIDGE 157 JUDE LAW WINTER 2020/21 Jude Law

interview — Nelle Holmes

Via Zoom September 11, 2020

Just like everybody else, Jude Law and his family members have been living through this period of reassessing everything, once habitual and everyday, that has turned into an unknown and dangerous adventure on the edge of life and death - just like in Fantastic Beasts, whose third part was on pause due to the pandemic and is in the making again. Speaking about what’s been done, his children, parents, films completed, and those only planned, Jude seems to be saying, ‘It’s great we have learnt to appreciate life and cherish the moments spent with our near and dear ones! This is “the silver lining” of the "The Third Day" pandemic “cloud”.’

155 THE WORLD BRIDGE 154 JUDE LAW WINTER 2020/21 N.H. What does a project have to give or offer you to sign on at this point in your career? Is it a different genre every time, or something you’ve never done before? What is it? J.L. People, first of all. It’s always looking at the people around the project. What have they done before? Is it going to Nelle Holmes. May I ask where you are now? be an experience for us to grow together? With interesting, collaborative, and talented people you usually manage Jude Law. I’m in London. to make something interesting. It’s trying to work out the equation of creating something successful. No one has that magic touch, so you can never know but hope to make something original and go on an exciting journey. So, I N.H. At your London home? think it starts with the people. I’ve never been the only one to look at it particularly so. I dislike repeating myself, J.L. At my home, yeah. though I’m sure I have. Yes, I am often curious to try things I’ve never done. I think it’s good to be a little scared of or nervous about something. This fear creates rather a good place to start work from. I’m not someone who N.H. I’ve seen both THE THIRD DAY and THE NEST. necessarily has a list of genres or styles of films to try and work through. I’m quite happy drifting funnily, as I view I really enjoyed both of them, though, for different reasons. I think I like the Jude Law it, just waiting for something to come along and grab my attention. of THE NEW POPE, who tries to look clean and good, than the one in THE THIRD DAY, who goes from OK to bad and worse. When did you understand more that you had to let N.H. THE THIRD DAY made me think of Kafka. I don’t know if you’ve read THE CASTLE where he go of your looks and get into this crazy character’s skin that I really enjoyed watching? goes there and can never leave for whatever reasons. J.L. You know, it’s funny, I got involved with The Third Day very quickly, and it’d taken many years to develop. J.L. Yeah. So, when it came back with this wonderful group of creatives around it, from the cast and producers to the director and the writer, it was very hard to resist. Still, to be honest, I, sort of, underestimated the N.H. I love the absurdity of it and all the emotional and physical impact of playing that part. It was grueling, but once you’re in, you’re in. Once you unexpected things in it. I’ve been said yes, there’s no going back. And, I think the toughest section was the one in the water. We were in wondering about your attitude to all that. that water for days and days, and it had an incredibly strong current. So, occasionally members of the crew Are you into this Kafkaesque kind of would get washed away slowly in front of me. All of them were saved, of course, and everyone was safe, but stories? Of course, in this one, there’s it was, nonetheless, quite hair-raising. much more involved, like grief and all

these things. Still, is it something that N.H. I saw THE NEST at Sundance, and it’s just stuck with me because it’s such a attracts you and why? I mean, sometimes, it’s obviously upsetting, but fascinating examination of masculinity. The roles we have to play, a certain J.L. I mean, I do know The Castle and have a passion still absurd in many ways. Yes, there’s an absurdity perch and the kind of status you have to show the world mean something for dystopian literature. It actually goes back to to it. I think Dennis gets that brilliantly. There about yourself. Could you talk a little bit about that? Have you ever felt that one of my first films - Gattaca. While researching are many funny things in The Third Day, which, I not necessarily do you have to maintain a certain status for your friends or that kind of storytelling, I fell in love with hope, you all have found. peers to see, but you observe people expect just that from you? Yevgeny Zamyatin’s We, which, I believe, is being J.L. Yeah. I’m glad you picked up on that. It’s one of many themes and layers that drew me to the republished in a new translation this year. Yeah, N.H. What, do you think, a nest should be? piece, and that we discussed when making it. It’s also interesting that my character chose to Kafka and people like him. So, I suppose, in many In which way have you changed as set it when he did. To me, it was a time when, I think, slightly more misogynistic roles were ways, yes, I have a taste for all that. Again, as I said a father and a husband to create played in households. So, Rory’s living very much up to that. Also, you obviously learn about just now in another answer, I don’t really have a this kind of nest? his past, and he’s also trying to steer his own family and himself away from what he sees as a sort of plan ever. I wait until things come along J.L. I don’t know if the experience has necessarily failed family behind him. The theme of stepping up or living up to one’s role as a man, I think, and pique my curiosity. This one started through a changed my opinion of what a nest is or can be. is as yet unresolved, in a way, for all of us, men. It’s a modern dilemma, isn’t it? It’s how we friendship with Felix Barrett, the creative director I like the title because it has a sort of clarity and embrace vulnerability and a search of affection, and who we are in our hearts as we tick the of Punchdrunk and one of the producers. We’ve yet it’s ambiguous. I also think we all have our boxes of being a provider, an achiever, or all those qualities that are apparently essential to be known each other for many years. He came to me own interpretations of home as a nest and what a successful dad or a successful man. with this idea, such an essential and, you know, that means. It always makes me laugh when you in many ways a simple idea, of a man who arrives, discuss rituals or activities with other people and N.H. That’s why we have to buy bigger houses or bigger cars, not necessarily for can’t leave, and realizes that it’s a kind of metaphor find out that something you do or the way you ourselves but to show … describing his mental state. As it fleshed out in do it in your home may be completely different J.L. To show everyone we’re doing so well. It’s an issue that, kind of, affects us all now, doesn’t it? the hands of Dennis Kelly, a brilliant writer, it from what someone else does, but it’s absolutely It puts such pressure on us. We put pressure on ourselves, but, equally, the system around us became clear it was going to be really interesting, normal, nonetheless. You may be doing it because puts pressure on us. It’s all about projecting out rather than looking within. That’s why to me, timely, and fertile. I liked the idea of a story within your parents did it, or because it’s something that it was such a poignant piece. It looked at that terrain and picked at it, but with empathy and a story - a man trapped physically and mentally comforts you. We all interpret life within our without judgment. I like to think, as you get to know him, you like him, you believe in him on the island of his grief and sense of isolation. nests very, very differently, and I think the title as an audience member, and then he lets you down as he lets down his wife and children. So, There’s another important ingredient of this has that sort of breadth. You know, I am someone to make it more personal, like you asked, I suppose, the truth is, like everyone else, I try and literature/storytelling I may not have mentioned. who tries, I see life as an opportunity to grow wrestle with those demands. I try to work on my own sense of asking myself who and what There’s a humor to it. We is rife with metaphor permanently. I like to think that every day is an I really want to be, rather than what the world’s thinking about me or what other people, my and reference to our own states, actually. If you’re opportunity to improve yourself whether as a neighbors, or anyone else make of me. I think the real clue is the journey’s got to somehow like me, I think you quite often find humans father, a husband, a friend, within your career, or start in your heart, and you’ve got to learn to talk to yourself about it. ridiculously funny because of the things we do. just as a civilian, a citizen of Earth. So, I’d certainly

153 THE WORLD BRIDGE 152 JUDE LAW WINTER 2020/21 say The Nest reminded me of the importance and the essence, I suppose, of love at the heart of a family. An interesting observation about the film is that the couples stay together, and there’s a sense, I think, of optimism at the end. They’re going to get through everything and survive. I think there’s a very important sense of that for us to keep. We can work through things, listen, understand, and move on.

N.H. Congratulations on your sixth child! J.L. Thank you.

N.H. Did you imagine yourself a father of six children when you were younger? J.L. No, I didn’t, but I love them all dearly. They definitely keep me a bit younger. We were all together just yesterday actually. My son Rudy turned 18, so we had a family dinner. We probably won’t be able to get all together for a while because new rules are being implemented here in London - no groups over six. Seeing an incredibly broad range of ages come together was just wonderful, really wonderful. Seeing my parents amidst all of us was particularly enjoyable for me, because they didn’t come from big families, so that’s been left to me and my sister.

N.H. The Premier season is starting and I’d like to know what’s your favourite team. J.L. My team is Tottenham Hotspurs.

N.H. Harry Kane. J.L. That’s right, Harry Kane. But we’ve got the worst luck of all teams.

N.H. How is the live episode of the show going to be shot on October 3? How are you preparing for it? What is it going to be like? As I’m a bit of an Italian, I find it interesting that Paolo Sorrentino says he’d do another POPE just to work with you and the team. I wonder if you feel the same about it. J.L. Oh, I feel absolutely the same. I feel like I’ve been given an honorable membership of that Italian family. And as a country, I just adore Italy. I love visiting it, I love working there, but that particular group is a very close team. We had so much fun making the film. So, yeah, I do hope we will do something again, whether it’s me being Lenny or whoever else. He’s so incredibly creative and productive, always doing something, writing "The Third Day" something, thinking of something. So, something

151 THE WORLD BRIDGE 150 JUDE LAW WINTER 2020/21 is getting a sort of first look into Sam’s slightly erratic emotional state. I remember Marc saying, ‘Faster! Faster! Faster! Let's push it even further!’ will come up, I hope. The live event was key to the very first idea that we discussed for The How much are we going to miss out by conducting while we were rehearsing. He was very good at that Third Day. As I mentioned before, Felix Barrett, one of the producers and the creative director of things like this for ever more? Or is it indeed worth throughout, and, luckily, we shot that on the first Punchdrunk, which, if you don’t know, is an incredibly immersive theatre company. They have the journey? That's how it feels, and I don't know. I day, so I still had lots of energy. productions all around the world, and even if they didn’t invent it, they certainly made it a very really don't. I mean, at the moment, this is what it commercial and successful theater form. His idea was to blend mediums. He said, ‘Wouldn’t it be is, and we all make it work. Who knows about the N.H. You’ve talked about your six children. I amazing if we could watch a film or a television program that became a live event?’ He describes future? We'll have to see. Going back to one of your wonder, in which of them you see most it as ‘the screen, sort of, dropping away for the viewer to step in.’ The inner story’s broken into other points, which is perhaps better to talk about of yourself. You’ve also mentioned three chapters, all of which take place on the island of Osea: Summer, Autumn, which I am in, - film festivals, I know Venice is underway at the your parents. I'm not sure if I got you and the last one is Winter. So, as you know, if you’ve seen it, there’s a festival put together by the moment. I haven't spoken to anyone who's been correctly, but I think you said your islanders underway, and it has slightly dark overtones. The live event is going to be the festival. there, but I hear it's going well, and they've had no parents hadn’t been happy in childhood. The audience obviously can’t come to the actual island, so we’ve created a theatrical piece with problems. It'll be interesting to see their model, Could you elaborate on that please? about 200 of us, I believe, on the island with just one camera following the festival activities for and how they've managed to pull that off, because, First, about your child. Which one of the 12 hours. The Punchdrunk’s been rehearsing all that. My preparation is playing my part for five of course, film festivals are wonderful venues for six is most like Jude Law and why? months. I know the character inside and out and, having worked with Felix alongside, I know smaller films, new film-makers, and film fans who J.L. Well, they're all themselves. I don't know yet. what he’s been rehearsing with the company. They’ll drop me in, and we’ll see what’ll happen. love seeing movies in the cinema. Festivals help us My eldest son looks like me, and he certainly understand how we can work from now on, and, as has similar qualities, but he's very much his own N.H. Life’s gone crazy over the last six you said, for that, we want to be there as actors and person, as they all are. It's the joy of being a parent: months, so could you update us on how film-makers to support and encourage people to you see a little bit of yourself, a little bit of the you’re coping with it? What are you doing see our products. mother, but you also see this person growing and with your time? How are staying sane? evolving in front of you, right? My parents became How are your parents doing at this time N.H. You mentioned FANTASTIC BEASTS a orphans and were both adopted. So, they come scary for all parents? while ago. Could you tease us a little from small families, though they were very happy J.L. Yeah, thank you for asking. My parents are all right about what we can expect from this new then. Fortunately, their new parents were in both actually. They’re a little uneasy, as everyone of a N.H. Just for clarification, are your parents in film? cases incredibly lovely and looked after them well, certain age, but fine, thanks again. I’ve probably, London or in France? J.L. They’ve made a slight adjustment because of travel. but both pairs were quite elderly and died when like everyone else, been doing a lot of cleaning J.L. They've been in London for the lockdown. We were unable to get a location we wanted, so my parents were young. Still, it meant that my up and a lot of jobs I’ve been putting off for years they’ve switched to another country. That wasn’t mum and dad were very much a family when they and years and years. I’m fixing things, like getting N.H. What are your conclusions, if any, about Berlin, by the way, but another one. That’s all. I met, until my sister and I’ve done a great job of rid of the squeaky doors and things like that. I’ve dealing with the media during the last can’t really talk about it because it’s still a secret as expanding the Law tribe. been very fortunate to be in London all this time, six months? You are used to being on to where we end up. and spending a lot of time with my family is just distant camera and don’t have to fly to N.H. So, did they move back to London for the fantastic. I’ve really enjoyed being able to spend every press event but can do interviews N.H. THE NEST and THE THIRD DAY start with lockdown? some time in my garden watching it bloom. I via Zoom from your room instead. Is it your characters talking on the phone. J.L. They’d actually been here when the lockdown was mean, how lucky are we to have a garden and be something you’d like to continue doing Somehow or other, you managed to called. So, my sister and I begged them to stay. I'm able to see it. I love having a garden. Otherwise, when we go back to normal? Your film is express a wide range of emotions from glad they did. I think we all felt we wanted our yeah, I was on pause because we were meant going to the Zurich Film Festival. Do you joy to shock within a short time. How loved ones close by, right? to start Fantastic Beasts 3 just as the lockdown think it’s more difficult for your films to do you rehearse such things? What can started. I was all ready to go, rehearsed, prepped, win at festivals if you cannot be there in prepare or make you act so effortlessly in N.H. Certainly. I asked that because, when and then we were put on pause. We started just person? Could you say a few words about such scenes? you spoke about your parents and your last week, but that’s been, sort of, rattling away in any other aspects of working distantly J.L. Well, what I tend to do is have the whole dialogue six children all together at the birthday my head for the whole time. besides acting? so that it's not one-sided. Both before and on the dinner, I’m sure you were not only a proud J.L. Yeah. Well, first of all, I think I should say, like day, I rehearse with someone else to make it a father, but a proud son too, to have N.H. What do you grow in your garden? everyone else, I'm actually just getting used to two-way conversation, because otherwise…. I don’t everybody around you, right? J.L. Gosh. All sorts. I'm particularly fond of Acacias, it, trying to understand what it’s all about. I like know who once said that 70% of acting is listening, J.L. It was beautiful. The lockdown has taught us to and I've been madly in love with my Wisteria, human interaction and prefer being in the same which I agree with. On the phone, you obviously cherish these moments as important and special. which I trim daily, trying to train it up the whole room with someone I’m talking to because this just listen because all you've got is the voice of other side of the house. Yeah, I've got a couple of kind of dynamics is more in tune with how I the other person. In that particular scene, Marc Bonsai trees too. feel connected with other people. Anyhow, if Munden, the director of The Third Day, wanted

distant communication’s safer and better for the me to push the extremity of the responses and environment with a lot less flying, then I'm all for emotions. And, as the question rightly points out, it. I think it's a case of weighing it all up, isn't it? respin very, very quickly with where his mind

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Artyom Kagan

This story began in 1768 when the first passenger steam-powered vehicle was built. The early XIXth century saw the introduction of petrol, and just a hundred years later appeared first battery electric vehicles, BEVs for short. 2024-25 will be the watershed time for the automaking industry. Its reconstruction to produce BEVs and Hydrogen-powered vehicles has already started worldwide. However, Artyom Kagan, a co-founder of RELOAD Motors and MaxBionic, is sure that it’ll take the industry at least 7-10 years to reach the necessary product quality.

147 THE WORLD BRIDGE 146 ARTYOM KAGAN WINTER 2020/21 generation can be programmed to current price is already high enough make up to 30 gestures controlled for average customers - about 1 700 by sensors fixed on the outside of 000 roubles. Still, it’s much cheaper the device or on the user’s muscle than the European and American endings. Now, we’re upgrading the analogues of the same functional- software for the second generation, ity. Developing an affordable, se- planning to equip it with a gyro- rially-produced, light, and reliable A few years ago, we started importing BEVs and soon realized the We’re also launching a commercial scope, and testing an artificial intel- device able to fulfill all the users’ necessity to establish service facilities for maintaining them. We vehicle production project in Ger- lect able to adjust the hand to each commands and serve for two years were pioneers and had to learn on-the-go. We bought broken BEVs, many. Unlike others, we’ve chosen user’s needs. The app will contain without breaking down takes years took them apart to see their bowels and learn how to bring them a strategy based on the existing ten preset gestures, and after ana- of fine-tuning the production tech- back to life. After many attempts, we succeded. Now, we have a platform of a Top-5 commercial ve- lyzing their usage, the AI will rear- nology and experimenting with ma- professional team of engineers able to take apart, say, a Tesla car, hicle producer. Our certified stock range them according to the user’s terials. Now, we use aluminum and install new software, and reassemble it so well that even official vehicle is to be put on the market in priorities. high-quality plastics. Carbon would service specialists will find no sign of their work. the second half of 2024. We’re also recruiting a new mar- be ideal, but the end price of such In early 2017, we launched a component production project. Many As to the power supply, we’re mov- ing towards creating a hybrid Hy- keting team to make our European a prosthetic would rocket sky-high. companies produce BEV and battery energy storage components, drogen fuel-cell electric technology market entry successful. It’s quite By the way, a bionic artificial limb but none sell their know-how to outsiders. That was the niche we profitable for commercial use in a challenge as two big prosthetics has a lot in common with a BEV – decided to carve out. It’s taken us a lot of time, effort, and invest- long-range trucks, vessels, and air- ment – about US $250 000 – to work out and test software, enabling producers dominating the market an app-controlled battery and sev- craft needing sizable onboard pow- are gradually taking over smaller eral high-precision electric engines us to make any battery configurations with required specifications, er storage capacities. Hydrogen fu- ones. One of the biggies is Ottob- complete with controllers. be it electro-bus batteries or energy storage components. The app el-cells produce energy for electric ock, a German company we’re going controls the temperature and deterioration level of each battery engines. Not only is the Hydrogen section, protecting it from over/undercharge. A Lithium-Ion battery fuel highly effective, but it’s also to compete with on their territory, must be well-balanced, as its effectiveness depends on its lowest environment-friendly thanks to its which will give us a chance to be element. So, even if just a few sections are half-charged, the BEV’s unprecedented zero-emission pro- noticed quickly. drive range will drop dramatically. duction. The existing electricity On the other hand, we’re planning At the moment, we’re experimenting with converting petrol-powered generation requires burning a lot of to develop new products – an el- vehicles to electricity. We’ve already made a converted Fiat Duca- hydrocarbons, so BEVs are still far bow joint, a forearm, a knee joint, to, most likely before Fiat itself, and taken part in the Aviar project from being 100% safe for the envi- and feet. It may sound out-of-this- – developing a classic muscle car powered by Tesla components. ronment. world, as if we could assemble a Now, we’re launching a 1973 Pontiac Firebird conversion project. whole human body in the end. In We’ve decided to relocate our brands to Eu- This time, we’re going to show the whole process from beginning to the meantime, no illusion meant, end, describing each stage and all the technical solutions used by as we’re still in the beginning, and rope because marketing Russian-made hi- our team. In 2018, we also designed batteries for Izh automobiles all such prosthetics are, as yet, quite tech products on foreign markets is next to im- and motorcycles produced by Kalashnikov JSC. far from being as functional as the possible. Nonetheless, designing, engineering, One of the main Li-Ion batteries’ problems is the complexity of their human limbs. The artificial parts’ recycling. We’re working out a new solution – a storage circuit, ex- mechanics, mobility, and flexibility some manufacturing, and assembling BEVs tending battery life by 10-12 years, to be used for industrial pur- New technologies are of use not are still limited, so users cannot fin- and hands, aimed for the Russian market, will poses. Vehicle batteries are lifted away, placed in a storage, and only in production and transpor- ger a pen freely, for instance. Even remain in Russia. hooked up to the circuit to become energy system elements work- tation but can also be an essential if such a function becomes a reali- ing as an excess energy buffer, say, by night and a source of energy part of one’s everyday life. MaxBi- ty, the end product will be way too The new technologies we’re developing are by day when consumption rises. We’ve already realized two such onic Company, designing and pro- expensive. In the meanwhile, the supposed to change our customers’ living stan- pilot projects for our Israeli customers. ducing bionic prosthetics, has made dards for the better. Fuel-powered vehicles’ A massive arrival of BEVs is sure to entail a major reconstruction of it clear to me. We’ve already got a the existing energy system, namely building more powerful gener- bionic artificial hand, certified in emissions have already been minimized to the ation and distribution facilities to recharge a large number of BEVs Russia, on offer. It has a number maximum, but it’s still not enough to meet the simultaneously wherever necessary, say, in the centre of Moscow. of competitive advantages, such as new EEC environmental safety requirements. That’s why such companies as BP are interested in obtaining storage a cool cyberpunk design, and it’s facilities as cheaply as possible. The second-battery-life approach not the only one. Prosthetics used Before long, commercial companies will have is a solution as, in essence, not only do you get used batteries for to have a skin imitation to look like to switch to BEVs, and the private vehicle mar- your storage for free, but you also get a recycling compensation and real limbs, but these days, many ket will follow suit. The future belongs to our use them for 12 years. Our pilot energy storage is being tested by customers, especially those under our US customer at the moment, and if everything goes well, we’ll 30, opt for the bionic style consid- technologies, and it’s no romantics but inevi- get a long-term contract to industrialize the solution. ering it a schtick. The first hand tability awareness.

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NICOLAS FLOC’H PRODUCTIVE SEASCAPES

Nicolas Floc’h Initium Maris. Laminaria, –6 m From the ‘Productive Seascapes’ series Molène island, France 2019 Carbon print, Fine Art mat pape © ADAGP, Paris, 2020

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As part of the ‘Photobiennale-2020’ the Multimedia Art Museum, Moscow presents, for the first time in Russia, the ‘Productive Seascapes’ project by Nicolas Floc’h, contemporary French photographer, founder of the Ocean Art Observatory, member of the DEMAIN, L'OCAN research group and lecturer at EESAB, the European Higher School of Arts in Brittany. Since the moment the camera first recorded life underwater, a vast number of sub-ocean footage has appeared, fascinating us with bizarre natural forms and colours. Today, underwater photography is a special, constantly evolving genre of photography. The two series by Nicolas Floc’h included in the project ‘Productive Seascapes’ completely violate established canons of the genre, despite the title and topography of the images. Nicolas Floc’h is an artist, explorer, sailor, and diver who examines ocean life in the context of cultural history and world art history. His ‘Productive Structures’ series (2011—2019) focuses on artificial reefs. Few people know that on the seabed there are cities and villages consisting of thousands of buildings erected by humans to support the flora and fauna of the ocean. The largest of them reach 35 metres in height. In Japan alone there are about twenty thousand such ‘cities’. Similar projects exist in most countries with access to the sea. The construction of artificial reefs is an important part of programmes to restore disturbed ecosystems. In the series ‘Productive Seascapes’ (2016—2019), Floc’h reveals the ocean world to the viewer in its prehistoric, eventless grandeur. The search for an adequate visual language forces the artist to reformulate the laws of the landscape genre developed for land photography. ‘The underwater environment must be treated in a special way, guided by completely different criteria when determining the contours from those used on the surface. We are not moving across a plane, however uneven it may be, we move in the strata of water, that is, in the space that extends from the surface to the bottom. The result is a fundamental change in the concept of a point of view,’ writes the photographer. ‘I decided to shoot the underwater landscape in natural light, and at a wide angle. The panoramic image eliminates the feeling of any kind of presence. Black and white photography allows you to work with illusions generated by the water environment itself, the density of the image, and the Nicolas Floc’h. ‘Productive Structures, Artificial reef’. effect of turbidity, which in the underwater world performs the same function Kikaijima, Japan, -18 m. Tara Pacific expedition. 2017 as the horizon line above ground.’ © ADAGP Paris 2020

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Nicolas Floc’h Nicolas Floc’h Artificial reef, –19 m ‘Productive Seascapes’. From the ‘Productive Structures’ series Ushant, -3 m. Hatsushima island, Japan 2016 2013 © ADAGP Paris 2020 © ADAGP, Paris, 2020

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