To open or close a major film festival by definition raises the expectations for a movie. "Being Julia" was the opening night selection for the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in September and a special selection at October’s Chicago International Film Festival. Istvan Szabo, the director of the great film "Sunshine" was in Chicago recently to promote his latest effort, which explores how individuals pursue their constantly changing dreams.

GS: Why was this film selected to open the TIFF?

IS: I think it’s a worthy film in addition to being a Canadian production. The producer is Canadian. I think those were important elements in its selection.

GS: Do you think there is a component of human nature that makes seemingly successful people not satisfied with their status or situation in life, as the Annette Bening character Julia seems in this film?

IS: There are two elements that are easy to find in any film of mine. One, is a human being, either man or woman, behind a mask. Society challenges you and you would like to please. To please a teacher, a boss, you use a mask to be perceived as the best. The second element is the daily fight of a need for security. An example of this is losing one’s position (in the workplace), beauty or age.

PS: Although the Bening character was very astute, she was so self centered that she missed some very obvious things around her, such as the fact that the Bruce Greenwood character was gay and that her husband was having an affair. Is there something about our perceived self-importance that allows us to at times miss very obvious things?

IS: Our apparent need to stay focused on the things most important to us can result in not seeing what is right in front of you.

PS: In looking through the press notes on the film, you talked about what makes movies a unique art form. Please elaborate on that a little.

IS: You can see a change take place in people, as you are there the very second that it happens.

GS: Yes, I recall that in the film "The Door in the Floor" with Kim Basinger, her most powerful scenes were those when the audience interpreted her thoughts and feelings by looking at her when she was saying nothing or calculating how she must be feeling by the manner in which she was speaking.

IS: Much of how people interpret things is through our "star system." The audience at times will filter what they see because of who the actor is.

"Being Julia" is an intelligent and funny film that uses the backdrop of theater as life, and makes that discovery very interesting.