Premiere centers on unbroken hero
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E-mail CNTV, December 18, 2014
Angelina Jolie is known for her many talents, juggling life as a Hollywood actress, mother, and UN ambassador. Well it looks like she is hoping to establish herself even more in the directing world, unveiling her second directorial project at the red carpet premiere for her new film, Unbroken. The movie is set to open in China on January 30th 2015.
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'Unbroken' |
Despite having fought so hard to make the war drama, Unbroken, director Angelina Jolie could not fight off chicken pox to attend the Los Angeles premiere, a movie that was fifty years in the making.
"I just wanted to be clear and honest about why I will be missing the Unbroken events for the next few days which is that I found out last night that I have chicken pox," Jolie said.
Unbroken is adapted from a 2010 nonfiction book of the same name, based on the riveting true story of an Olympic, war hero and Prisoner of War camp survivor, Louis Zamperini during World War II.
Three words echo repeatedly throughout the description of Unbroken. Survival, resilience, and redemption. They characterize Louie Zamperini's struggle and journey as he never lost sight of returning home and now his story makes it home onto the big screen.
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Pitt and children at the premier |
The Trojan marching band from Zamperini's alma mater, the University of Southern California, kicked off the festivity on the red carpet with drums, horns, and a lot of cardinal red and gold. As an emissary for his wife, actor Brad Pitt made an appearance.
"I'm representing my wife who's at home polka-dotted and spotted and lamenting that she can't be here but her spirits are high," Pitt said. "This has been a long time coming and she's so happy for everyone who came out here to recognize and pay tribute to an amazing life that's Louie Zamperini."
The film centers around Louie Zamperini, an runner who went to the 1936 Olympics, enlisted in World War II and was subsequently captured by the Japanese after his plane went down in the Pacific Ocean.
Jolie's absence did not halt the celebration for the movie as the cast, crew, and Zamperini's family gathered to share their praise for both the Zamperini and Jolie spirit. Maddalena Ischiale, who plays Louie's mother related how Jolie motivated her forward during production.
"She's amazing," Ischiale said. "The work is so easy with her. She is very sweet and warm and she has this very mother quality so she knows what she wants. But she has a very nice way to get it. You don't even realize you're working. Even though in the movie, the work is very, very strong. We cried a lot together; there were a lot of very emotional moments on set."
Louis McIntosh plays Lieutenant William Harris, an escape artist who winds up in the same prison as Zamperini and plans an escape attempt together. McIntosh emphasized how meaningful the depiction will be for audiences.
"Beforehand, I had no idea about the hardships and what actually went on and doing a film like this, you soon realize how brave these guys were and what an amazing story it is," McIntosh said.
Members of Zamperini's family attended the premiere, including his two children, Cissy and Luke. They expressed their happiness over the prospect of people getting more than a glimpse into their father's unique mindset.
15-year-old actor C.J. Valleroy, who plays young Louie recalled the parts of Zamperini’s outlook on life that he admires most. Namely, he mentioned how Zamperini always set his mind to achieve anything he believed he could, no matter his age.
Before heading into the theater, Jack O'Connell, who takes on the role of older Louie as he struggles to be a survivor excitedly shared a special token, a gold pocket watch, that he received from Jolie.
Unbroken is set to inspire audiences with Zamperini's heroic narrative. His strength and persistence embody the scope of the human spirit, representing the ability to blaze through life's toughest obstacles to triumph as a champion for the ages.
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