October 4, 2023
Meet the Hotties from Pedro Almodóvar's 'Strange Way of Life'
READ TIME: 8 MIN.
Condessa added that while Almodóvar knew exactly what he wanted, he was also open to suggestions from the actors, including one from Condessa. "But he's open to listening. As a young actor, that's incredible. He's a genius. On set, I had an idea for the moment when Silva shoots the wine barrel and says, "One, two, three –" Because we're friends and we're playing. I asked Almodóvar if it was possible to improve the moment. Then I thought, What a terrible idea, to tell Almodóvar what I want. And he looked at my eyes, and he said, "Okay, it's a good idea. Let's do it" – and changed everything to do that moment. Because it's not just an Almodóvar film; it's our film."
Condessa was describing the scene where the young actors are drinking and fighting, and then kiss. "Suddenly it turns from animalistic into passion," recalled Fernández. "They pause, look at one another, and feel something deeper. They've tested it out, and now there's this feeling."
Fernández told Vulture he didn't remember shooting the scene moments after it was done, and was told by Condessa that they "spent ten minutes kissing. I guess it wasn't good."
"I can't remember," Fernández added.. "'Did you put your tongue in my mouth?' You're just so much in the present. You're not thinking. You forget everything around you – just trust, and touch, and go naked with your feelings. It was beautiful. It was my first time kissing a man."
Both actors identify as straight, but Fernández flirted with the idea of same sex sex. "But you always open up! You never know. So far, I'm straight. But I believe more in people rather than labels. I've felt attracted to men, actually, but I haven't been with a man yet. But I'm young. I have time."
Asked about casting, George Steane rememebered: "I actually did my casting in person. My agent called me and said, 'You're going to Pedro's office.' I just literally went to Pedro's office, and he told me, 'Read these lines. You speak English, right?' I read the lines, and the day after, my agent called and said, 'You got the job.'"
For Manu Ríos the experience was a bit different. "Mine was so secretive. I did a tape, but my agency didn't tell me about what it was for and then I found out it was Pedro, and that's when the crazy part started."
Their joint appearance at Cannes turned out to be the first time the four actors were together. They shot their scenes separately.
"It's nice to put away egos and all come here as a team," Fernández said. "We know we're in a new place; nobody has been here before. We're all ready to learn, and that's brought us together."
"We're like kids," added Steane.
"Living a dream," concluded Fernández. "Well, I'm 28, so I'm the daddy."
Check out pics for each actor's Instagram:
