Working with Ethan Hawke on 2015s Chet Baker biopic Born to Be Blue, writer/director Robert Budreau was eager to work with the actor again, finding that opportunity with his Tribeca-premiering Stockholm.
Given a 1975 New Yorker article by one of his L.A. producers, Bureau found here a most unusual and unexpected story, detailing the absurd incident—a hostage crisis at a Swedish bank—that resulted in the creation of the term “Stockholm Syndrome.” “I was really captivated by the story and attracted to the characters, because its a real-life story,” Budreau said at Deadlines Tribeca Studio, appearing alongside stars Hawke and Noomi Rapace. When Hawke and Rapace came aboard, the project came together “relatively quickly, which is not usual for most films,” the director said.
In Stockholm, Hawke plays a mysterious bank-robbing bandit, while Rapace portrays hostage Bianca Lind, a woman who falls for her captor. A Swede by birth, Rapace had heard about the hostage incident in question many times throughout her life, and—presented with Budreaus script–became hungry to know more. “It was a total dream for me to be invited to this process, and to work with you guys. I loved every moment,” the actress explained. “[The film] is kind of quirky and funny and weird. I went on a journey, and I felt like the Stockholm Syndrome really hit me.”
Speaking to his attraction to the material, outside of his rapport with Budreau, Hawke mentioned Dog Day Afternoon—Al Pacinos Oscar-winning hostage film—as an inspiration personal to him as he set out to be an actor. “So the challenge of, could you do a bank heist movie, and do it well,” the actor reflected, “it looms in an exciting way.”
To hear more from the team behind Stockholm, click above.
The Deadline Studio at Tribeca is presented by Nespresso.
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