Director Jacques Audiard’s (DHEEPAN) newest work is turning the Western genre on its head after its Silver Lion award win at the Venice Film Festival, and People’s Choice Award nomination at the Toronto International Film Festival. THE SISTERS BROTHERS is being praised by audiences and critics alike; Rolling Stone raves, “A knockout, one-of-a-kind western from French director Jacques Audiard in which odd-bird frontier hitmen are played by Joaquin Phoenix and a hot-damn he’s great John C. Reilly. Saddle up.”

Audiard joined us at the Angelika New York for a Q&A on his film’s opening night, alongside co-screenwriter Thomes Bidegain, and star Jake Gyllenhaal. THE SISTERS BROTHERS marked Audiard’s first English-language film, and the project was presented to him by John C. Reilly – who sent him the novel of the same name, that initially inspired him to make it into a film. Audiard knew that he wanted to work with Gyllenhaal, and the feeling was certainly mutual. Gyllenhaal elaborates on that here:

“The luxury of working with someone like Jacques.. probably 70% of your work is done for you, before you even show up,” Gyllenhaal states. He elaborates on his admiration for Audiard & his work:

Though the film is a Western, it does draw in these that are very relevant to current day – race, immigration, diversity, masculinity… Bidegain describes the film’s story as “two guys, chasing one guy, who’s chasing an idea.” Audiard did take some creative liberties when adapting the novel to a film, but at the end of the day, he “believes in cinema… it has to move me.. teach me something about the human soul.” His full ‘profound statement’ is elaborated here:

Click here to visit our YouTube channel and see the full Q&A!

About the film:

Based on Patrick Dewitt’s acclaimed novel of the same name, the film follows two brothers – Eli and Charlie Sisters (Joaquin Phoenix and John C. Reilly) – who are hired to kill a prospector who has stolen from their boss. The story, a wildly entertaining genre-hybrid with comedic elements, takes place in Oregon in 1851. THE SISTERS BROTHERS is Jacques Audiard’s follow-up to his Palme D’Or Winning DHEEPAN, which premiered at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival.

View the trailer:

Where to see it:

THE SISTERS BROTHERS is now playing at Angelika New York, opens Friday 9/28 at Angelika Mosaic, Angelika Dallas and Angelika Plano, and 10/5 at Angelika Carmel Mountain.