'MAYBE HOLLYWOOD WASN'T FOR ME'

I never got respect as an actress.

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London-based Indian film-maker Dheeraj Akolkar premiered his new documentary Liv Ullmann, A Road Less Traveled at the Cannes film festival.

In the film, Akolkar covers the life and career of the celebrated Norwegian actress Ullmann, from her early days in theatre, to working in films with the Swedish master Ingmar Bergman, her venture into Hollywood, two Oscar nominations (The Emigrants and Face to Face), and an honorary Oscar in 2022.

In addition to Ullmann, a range of actors appear in the film, like Cate Blanchett, Jessica Chastain, Jeremy Irons, Sam Waterson and John Lithgow who presented the honorary Oscar trophy to Ullmann.

This is Akolkar’s second film on Ullmann.

In 2012, he directed a documentary called Liv & Ingmar where he covered the creative, personal and sometimes difficult relationship between Ullmann and Bergman.

Akolkar started his film career working with art director Nitin Desai on Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, Lagaan, Devdas and then assisted Sanjay Leela Bhansali. He eventually moved to London

“We are moving apart from each other more and more in this world,” says Ullmann. “We don’t touch. When the camera comes close to you, even if you are showing other things as an actor, I can feel I am close to someone I love the most.”

Liv, Dheeraj had already made a film about you and your life with Ingmar Bergman. I had interviewed him at that time. Why did you decide to do a larger extended documentary about your life?

Liv Ullmann: I wasn’t planning to and I am somewhat shy. But he came to me and said I would like to make something.

So it was more about my saying ‘Oh, it would be nice to work with you again.’