Ellen Burstyn and Taika Waititi lead the cast of director Kornél Mundruczó’s upcoming film, “Place to Be,” an “urban road movie” set to premiere at the Venice Film Festival. Mundruczó, who previously worked with Burstyn on “Pieces of a Woman,” specifically wanted to create a lighter, love story for the actress, noting her previous roles have often been “rather dark.”
The film centers on Brooke, a widow played by Burstyn, who is pressured by her children to move into a retirement home. Her life is disrupted when a pigeon flies into her home and refuses to leave, prompting her to embark on a road trip to return the bird to its owner. Along the way, she meets Nelson, a divorcee portrayed by Waititi, and the two form an unlikely friendship alongside the pigeon. Murray Bartlett and Pamela Anderson play Burstyn’s children, with Mundruczó noting a striking physical resemblance between the three actors.
Mundruczó was inspired to write the film after attending a pigeon race, finding the birds to be a “beautiful” and historically significant symbol. He also saw the pigeon as a “great metaphor” for aging stars, possessing past importance but maintaining inherent quality. He felt Waititi, who he likened to Robin Williams with a “sad clown” persona, was the perfect actor to play opposite Burstyn, seeking someone with a “real quality” rather than a traditional actor.
According to Mundruczó, Burstyn and Waititi “immediately” connected, displaying “fantastic” chemistry on set. This year’s Venice Film Festival holds particular significance as Burstyn will be honored with a Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement. This marks Mundruczó’s return to the festival since “Pieces of a Woman,” which he says was hampered by COVID-19 restrictions.
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