‘You Hurt My Feelings’ Director Nicole Holofcener Returns to Sundance, But ‘Please Don’t Call Me Unshakable’ – Deadline Q&A

Writer-director Nicole Holofcener returns to Sundance for a fourth year in a searing comedy You hurt my feelings. It’s her reunion with Julia Louis-Dreyfus, the novelist whose marriage is turned upside down when she hears her husband’s honest opinion about her latest book. Michaela Watkins, Arian Moayed and Jeannie Berlin also star. You hurt my feelings Premieres today at 6:30pm MST. Previously, Holofcener shared some thoughts with Deadline about her latest film, The Festival, and directing in pajamas remotely with a case of Covid.

MEETING: You are a writer. How personal is this film to you?

HOLLOW WINNER: The film is indirectly personal to me. I wondered what questions were being asked in the film. Can I be okay if someone very close to me doesn’t like my films? I’m sure a lot of people I know don’t like my films, or not all of them, and I just don’t know, thank goodness. But what if I knew? Somehow it would feel so embarrassing. So is it better to lie and only support the people we love, or to be honest and convince them we love them?

MEETING: You worked with Julia Louis-Dreyfus on the 2013 film Enough Said: How Was the Reunion?

HOLLOW WINNER: Julia and I had so much fun Enough said So I tried to write something for us again. Of course I’m not the fast type.

MEETING: Are there any specific challenges in producing the film?

HOLLOW WINNER: The first challenge that came to mind was the fact that I got Covid in week two. But I directed from home on my laptop and somehow everything worked out. Directing in your pajamas isn’t so bad. Okay, it was actually kind of hair-raising. All the actors are hilarious and the collaboration was great. It was actually one of my funniest and easiest shoots. Laughter helps a lot.

MEETING: Her first Sundance project was walk and talk in 1996. I think it’s fair to call them Sundance Kings. What do you think of the first physical festival in three years?

HOLLOW WINNER: Royalty, right? Okay, am I Kate Middleton or Meghan Markle? Or maybe I’m the dead queen. Anyway, thanks for the compliment. At least you didn’t call me harsh. Please don’t call me firm. As for the festival, it’s interesting to see how Park City has changed since I’ve been here several times. It’s much busier, hard to get tickets. The city used to feel like a film festival was held here. Maybe it’s just that first weekend, but it’s all noise.

MEETING: It’s a challenging time for indie films. What do you think are the biggest threats to the industry?

HOLLOW WINNER: I’m sorry, but I won’t answer [that]. There are people who can answer this question much better than I can. I will say that I am very happy that I can still make films and it seems that there are also a lot of new people making films here.

MEETING: Are you looking forward to the premiere?

HOLLOW WINNER: I am so excited and nervous to show my film on Sunday. I have not seen it with real audience. Julia and Tobias are here and I think they are proud of the film and it is very satisfying. The thought of doing a movie and the actors feeling embarrassed would make me curl up and go home. I think we will have fun. And of course I try to see a lot of other films.