"We've been together for 30 years, so when it comes to arguing, we never really argue," joked Javier Bardem, followed by Penélope Cruz in response to the most obvious of questions during the media appearance. However, she made it clear that despite the passion that unites them in their profession, they do not discuss work at home.
To set the scene, Bunker tells the story of a Spanish couple in London. He is a renowned architect, and she works in a publishing house. Everything goes smoothly in their comfortable life until two events disrupt the tense calm of a society, ours, increasingly unequal, increasingly obsessed with security, increasingly isolated, increasingly worse. First, the neighbor decides one day to open a window in their house that overlooks the couple's garden. And second, a very wealthy technocrat, to whom we daily give money by using their apps, commissions Bardem's character's studio to build a bunker to shelter from the probable apocalypse if we let it happen. The window and the bunker from the beginning.
"Beyond my desire to work with Florian and again with Javier, one of the reasons for accepting the job is that my character says many things that closely resemble what I think. I have the impression that we are used as puppets, that there are fewer and fewer (you can count them on one hand) making decisions that affect us all and manipulate us," Penélope Cruz commented to explain something about the movie and a bit about herself. She continued: "It irritates me when those I speak of lay off countless workers and boast that it's good because we will have more free time. But the issue is not that but what to do with that free time. Free time without purpose leads to depression. As I was saying, I have the impression that those who run the world lack the empathy gene, they do not believe in human connection." And with that said, a glimmer of hope: "The only thing that reassures me is seeing that young people are increasingly awake and concerned about politics."
In the same vein, Bardem lamented that the film's theme, which is none other than the lack of empathy, the isolation from each other in which we live, calls for a change... "It demands that we take responsibility for the pain, desires, and dreams of others. It requires us to relearn to sacrifice for others," he said. And one more thing: "The morality of these people who currently control everything is nothing but a total lack of morality... That's my opinion."
During the press conference, there was time to congratulate each other for the Oscars (they are back in two of the three pre-candidates for the Hollywood awards: The Black Ball and The Loved One), for the good state of Spanish cinema increasingly present in the world, and, while at it, to highlight the Spanish language. Bunker is spoken in English and Spanish. "It's something that is hard to convince producers of," Cruz said after recalling the efforts she had to make to learn the Colombian accent in a movie mostly spoken in English regardless of the context. "Society is increasingly aware that it is multilingual. The reality of the couple in the movie is that of many living abroad. At home, one language is spoken, and on the street, another. And there is no conflict. Moreover, the viewer does not see it as a problem because they understand that this is reality, and that's where the truth lies." She said this in English right after speaking in Spanish. And so on.
And so it went until someone, as has been a tradition in recent years, brought up the exceptional nature in the current Hollywood landscape that stars talking about politics represent. Bardem emphasized the ability of any citizen to voice their opinion. "I just happen to be listened to more. Which carries a greater responsibility," he said. And beside him, Cruz doubled down: "But with everything that's happening, how can you avoid talking about politics?"
Thus, Bunker, a movie about the need for windows.