Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Nicole Holofcener on the Absurdity of Everyday Life

SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Sisters from one other mister. Cinematic alter egos. However you outline it, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Nicole Holofcener have a connection that rivals the good film partnerships of our time. New York transplants who’re related in peak and in age, Louis-Dreyfus, 62, and Holofcener, 63, every have two grown sons, a wholesome self-deprecating angle and the flexibility to riff on any matter: cake (it’s their favourite dessert), Hollywood gossip (sure, Robert De Niro did simply have a child) and the indignities of ageing.

Holofcener arrives on the restaurant at Shutters on the Beach first, takes glass cleaner out of her purse and cleans her brown-rimmed spectacles. Five minutes later, Louis-Dreyfus grabs a chair, pulls out the identical glasses in inexperienced and her personal bottle of glass cleaner, and wipes them clear. (Am I the one one who doesn’t carry glass cleaner in her purse?)

On the set of their new movie “You Hurt My Feelings,” they had been like two halves of the identical individual. Louis-Dreyfus was styled equally to how Holofcener normally clothes: loosefitting pants, button-down blouses. With Covid protocols firmly in place on the time — these not in a scene had been masked up — they had been typically mistaken for one another.

“You definitely feel like they are separated at birth,” mentioned the producer Anthony Bregman. “They are both mothers before filmmakers. They have the same sense of humor, the same honesty, the same potty mouth. But I think what’s at the core is that they have the same disbelief, or wonder, at the narcissism of social interaction.”

Take Louis-Dreyfus’s new podcast, “Wiser Than Me,” which has ranked excessive on the charts because it debuted in April. In it Louis-Dreyfus interviews ladies who’re older, and subsequently wiser, than her.

“Maybe you’ll still be doing it when I’m old enough to be interviewed,” Holofcener instructed her.

“I won’t,” Louis-Dreyfus replied.

“And you’ll be like, she’s not that wise,” Holofcener mentioned.

“I’ll do this for eight more years and the last episode will be me talking about me,” Louis-Dreyfus mentioned, laughing on the thought.

The two first met a decade in the past, once they partnered on “Enough Said,” the 2013 romantic comedy a couple of divorced lady grappling with sending her daughter off to varsity whereas considering a brand new love. They later collaborated on an Amy Schumer sketch that went viral however weren’t in a position to make one other movie collectively, till now. “You Hurt My Feelings” follows Beth (Louis-Dreyfus), a considerably profitable and fortunately married author who overhears her husband, Don (Tobias Menzies), criticizing her new novel. The fallout proves devastating.

The premise is one more instance of Holofcener’s potential to mine the mundanity of life for the absurd. Below are edited excerpts from our dialog.

Was there an inciting incident that prompted this movie?

NICOLE HOLOFCENER It began brewing as quickly as I began screening my films or having individuals learn my scripts, questioning in the event that they’re telling me the reality or not. And believing that I can inform. What a nightmare this example could be, if any person that near me revealed to another person that they didn’t like my work, and even simply one of my films. They have to like all the pieces, in different phrases, for me to really feel protected.

JULIA LOUIS-DREYFUS She’s very delicate.

HOLOFCENER I simply got here up with a what-if. What could be the worst state of affairs of any person telling me they love one thing and me not believing them? I do have pals that I don’t consider. And there’s one individual particularly that I don’t consider. I’m truly OK with it. Because I do know they love me and get me and clearly they’re improper. I imply, it hurts somewhat. They didn’t admit it.

Since Nicole wrote this script with you in thoughts, did you hook up with it instantly?

LOUIS-DREYFUS Yes. I feel it’s fascinating to think about the notion of price and self-worth. Am I my work? And who am I with out my work? That’s definitely one thing I like to consider. And that that is ostensibly a terrific relationship between a married couple, after which the wheels simply completely fall off the bus. That was form of terrifying to think about.

I instructed Frank Rich [the former New York Times columnist who was an executive producer of her series “Veep”] the premise of this earlier than we shot it. He audibly gasped.

HOLOFCENER Oh good. That’s my viewers. Not the individuals who would hear the premise and go, ‘Yeah, so what? Like, what planet are you from?’

Since you wrote this with Julia in thoughts, did that change your strategy?

HOLOFCENER [To Louis-Dreyfus] Just don’t pay attention, as a result of it’s going to sound silly.

[Louis-Dreyfus throws her cappuccino-stained napkin over her head to avoid eye contact.]

HOLOFCENER When you might have Julia in your head, it’s bliss, as a result of it simply makes me funnier, realizing that she’ll do it. She simply sparks my creativeness.

Is there a scene that you simply wouldn’t have written if Julia wasn’t your lead actress?

LOUIS-DREYFUS Oh God.

HOLOFCENER Certainly, I can see different actors doing the scenes in a different way, and I’m so glad they’re not in it and she or he is.

What scene particularly?

HOLOFCENER The scene the place she’s sitting on the sofa along with her sister, she’s smoking pot. This is after she’s heard the dangerous news; she’s crying. It’s tragic. And you actually really feel for her, however you’re laughing due to that face.

LOUIS-DREYFUS Oh gee, thanks.

HOLOFCENER Julia walks a really wonderful line between comedy and drama. And that’s what I love to do with my writing. I didn’t should do a lot, or something, for her to get what I imply. We know this film is about one thing pretty minor on the earth of issues.

LOUIS-DREYFUS But additionally very main.

HOLOFCENER But within the massive image, we’re not going to be crying for her. We hope she’ll recover from it. But I feel that scene works as a result of she looks like she’s about 16. I feel all of us are generally nonetheless 16. Especially on the subject of getting approval or not getting approval. I nonetheless consider myself that means. So that’s humorous to see a grown-up individual behave like they’re 16, in an trustworthy means. Not in a film means. Or a histrionic or a foolish means.

How tough was it to shoot the scene on the street proper after she’s overheard her husband trash her novel?

LOUIS-DREYFUS That was very nerve-racking as a result of we had paparazzi points that day.

HOLOFCENER It was our first day.

LOUIS-DREYFUS Which sucked, by the way in which. We didn’t personal the road. It was simply brutal attempting to shepherd individuals and get them out of the shot or into the shot or no matter. And then we’ve paparazzi throughout the road, as I’m attempting to legitimately look as if I’m going to vomit. You know, that’s not a great look.

HOLOFCENER And they need to take your image.

LOUIS-DREYFUS I’m attempting to remain within the scene. But that look of if you’re truly heaving. I defy probably the most stunning lady on the earth, Isabella Rossellini will not be going to look good, doing that.

HOLOFCENER She did it so nicely that somebody walked by and requested her if she was all proper.

We don’t typically see a longtime fortunately married couple depicted onscreen.

LOUIS-DREYFUS Normally, should you see a pair married a very long time, you’re going to see them butting heads.

HOLOFCENER Or having an affair

LOUIS-DREYFUS Or any person will get a coronary heart assault. In this case, it’s way more recent and fascinating.

HOLOFCENER I feel there are hardly any films about individuals our age. And they often are typically, in my humble opinion, too foolish or too broad.

LOUIS-DREYFUS And not actual.

The majority of the characters on this movie are experiencing doubt over their careers and if they’ll or ought to pivot to doing one thing else. Clearly, that matter was in your thoughts, Nicole.

HOLOFCENER I really feel that means. Sometimes. I ponder how a lot time I’ve left, and do I need to be doing the identical factor. Is it too late and what would I do? I feel quite a lot of my pals really feel the identical means. Or they’re retiring early and making pottery and are very glad. I can think about retiring.

LOUIS-DREYFUS You can?

HOLOFCENER Yeah, similar to, depart me alone already. I’ve no extra concepts.

Do you actually really feel that you simply’re out of concepts?

HOLOFCENER Well, in the intervening time I’m out of concepts.

Do you normally really feel this fashion proper after you’ve completed making a movie?

HOLOFCENER I’m normally out of concepts on daily basis. That’s why I make so few films. So it’s actually true. I don’t know if I’ll make one other film. I hope that’s not the case. I did suppose that earlier than this film, so, you understand, I’m assuming I’ll preserve going for some time.

LOUIS-DREYFUS You will.

HOLOFCENER And my characters will develop previous with me.

LOUIS-DREYFUS I wasn’t fascinated with this character as an age factor. Maybe that was improper of me.

HOLOFCENER She’s afraid she has an previous voice. We’re all afraid of that.

LOUIS-DREYFUS To let you know the reality, I really feel like this age, there’s simply a lot extra to do. There’s an enormous freedom. It’s like who cares. Try all of it. Risk all of it. The good thing about being this age is that you’ve got a lot expertise below your belt, should you’re fortunate. Which you do. And I do. And you’ll be able to apply it. I need to make one other film with this one. You’ve acquired to get an concept in your head.