Sean Penn Gets Emotional About the 'Greatest Joy' of Working With His Kids, Talks New Film, More

Transcript

00:00Well, there are a couple of answers to that. Let me start for context.

00:05In this case, this was unusual because this was not something that I can claim credit for having started

00:13or had anything to do with until after it was complete.

00:19The producers, Mark Maxey, had been in touch with Congressman Swalwell,

00:23and he and I talk on a fairly regular basis, and he's very interested in storytelling, in movies, and so on.

00:35And he had seen the film, and they were looking for champions, essentially, I think.

00:43And they felt that in some small way I could help generate some noise about it.

00:50So I was shown the film, and I just said anything that I can do that would be helpful.

00:57Because I really, before we talk about anything else, no matter what anyone's political viewpoint is,

01:05because a lot will be said about how sort of timely the film is,

01:08the storytelling of this true story of this heroic woman, the acting.

01:20Maxine Peek is otherworldly, and playing an otherworldly person in Anna.

01:29And I remember some of these events.

01:31So that's how I got involved.

01:35This was just, it was great storytelling.

01:38And then it was, I thought, a necessary and exciting,

01:45the idea that it exists and can be shared, a cautionary tale.

01:51Yeah.

01:51Well, you know, we wonder about what the things are that make us emotional,

01:57and that's such an important thing, no matter what a movie is about.

02:01And I think probably more than anything, for me, it's courage.

02:09I think when you see people who have deep courage,

02:15and I have had the opportunity to see that a lot in Ukraine as recently as seven days ago,

02:28where it's not just the courage that risks their life and their physical body,

02:37but while in that, to hold on to joy, humanity, and humor,

02:45to see people still so human under so much stress.

02:51And I think that you do see that here, and you see it with Maxine Peek and Jason Isaacs,

02:59who's, you know, it's about time, I mean, we've known him, of course, the world has known him,

03:05but between White Lotus and this, it's about time this great actor has this kind of run.

03:12So, yeah.

03:14I totally...

03:15This was an easy yes for me.