Podtalk: Writer/Director Sean Durkin Feathers ‘The Nest’

Printer-friendly versionE-mail page to friendPDF version

CHICAGO – His first film in 2011 was classic independent cinema. “Martha Marcy May Marlene” put writer/director Sean Durkin on the map, and now nine years later he has a new film, “The Nest,” which features Jude Law against type as a go-go 1980s financial guru who is trying to balance a career and family. The film releases in theaters on September 18th.

Jude Law is Rory, a hard charging financial speculator in the 1980s, who decides to pull up stakes with his wife Allison (Carrie Coon) and two children, moving from New York City to his native London. What is revealed is that he is nearly broke, and he’s using his remaining money to pretend he is wealthy to impress his new employers. This unintentionally starts a downward spiral for the whole family.

Sean Durkin (left) On Set with Jude Law for ‘The Nest’
Photo credit: IFC Films

Sean Durkin wrote and directed “The Nest,” as he did previously with “Martha Marcy May Marlene.” He was born in Canada, and lived both in England and New York City. After film school at New York University and a couple of short films, he made his feature debut in 2011 with “Martha Marcy …, “ and it was the first major film role for Elizabeth Olsen. After winning acclaim for that film at Sundance and Cannes, he moved back to short film (“Mary Last Seen,” the Best Short Film at Cannes in 2010) and series television in Britain (“Southcliffe”). “The Nest” is his second feature film.

In PART ONE of a Podtalk with Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com, director Sean Durkin of “The Nest” talks casting, and the ever present past.

In PART TWO … “The Great Gatsby” directed by Sean Durkin? The cosmos says it could happen.

By PATRICK McDONALD Editor, Film Writer HollywoodChicago.com pat@hollywoodchicago.com