In addition to putting Mexico on high, Alfonso Cuarón, Guillermo del Toro and Alejandro González Iñárritu have shared a friendship for decades. Even though none of them was known for their contributions to the seventh art, the three already shared stories, advice, and above all, common dreams. Said friendship grew even stronger as time went on, and despite their complicated schedules, they continue to be there for each other when necessary.
At present, the three directors already accumulate several Oscar nominations for their excellent filmography. What before seemed like a dream, today is a reality: they are among the most acclaimed and respected filmmakers in the Hollywood industry, a track record of success surrounds them, and they are seen by many actors as people they would like to work with.
In a talk for Deadlinethe trio, who calls themselves “The three friends”, spoke about what has happened in his film career for more than 30 years. There have been triumphs, failures and difficult moments, but above all, a friendship that has motivated them to keep going.
“Alfonso and I met in the 80s,” says del Toro. “We had heard of each other’s work through mutual friends. And I remember thinking, ‘Who is this guy that everyone likes? Why does everyone like him?’ We met in the waiting room for La hora marcada, a program in which I was going to do the make-up effects and Alfonso wrote and directed. I remember saying to him, ‘Look, I’ll do the makeup if you let me direct and write a few episodes,’” he said.
The meeting between Iñárritu and Cuarón took place a few years later, when the latter was preparing to direct Big hopes. For Iñárritu, Cuarón was already “a total rockstar”, and it is that his name was already known in the Hollywood industry. Until then, the only contact they had was through Emmanuel “El Chivo” Lubezki.
“I met Guillermo (del Toro) in 1999, when he was editing Amores perros. The film was already finished, but Guillermo and I spent three or four days in the studio discussing the film. He tried to pry some conscience out of this stubborn fellow. And I suppose it was successful, because that is the movie as you know it now”, added Iñárritu.
This type of dynamic was precisely what made their friendship increasingly solid. The talent of the Three Amigos is indisputable, but even with this, they allow feedback from their colleagues to perfect each of their works. It is true that each one of them has a very particular style when directing, but that difference is what has allowed them to reach such a level of success.
“They can talk about our differences, but I see them more as complements. This in the sense that we are very aware of our limitations and strengths. We have a way of making movies, but each of us understands where the other comes from. When there are disagreements, for example, if I want to do something specific, and one of them puts a red flag on it, I immediately know that I have to be careful with it,” Cuarón said.
Even though they maintain a deep friendship, Cuarón, del Toro and Iñárritu know that this takes a backseat when it comes to giving feedback on each other’s work. Friendship is not going to make a movie better or get more awards. What will, is objectivity.
“When Alfonso says ‘brutal’, he means something brutal. You could show them a cut, and they’ll step aside and say, ‘Look, no matter what you think this is, this is what the audience will tell you, and this is what the critics will tell you. Change it or not, but that’s what you have to accept,'” added del Toro.
Currently, the Three Amigos have won the Oscar for Best Direction. And although they do not have a recent project where they have shared their talent, they have worked together on various projects. The trio was involved in the production of Rude and Corny. “It’s more than just producing. I feel inspired by them,” del Toro said.
Most important of all, the three of them have carried out most of their projects with minimal budgets. Sure they know how to work with large amounts of money, but their talent is not limited by the availability of money. Iñárritu defines it with a phrase that inspired the director of the shape of water: “A budget is a state of mind.”
Obviously, the relationship between these filmmakers has allowed them to go very far, not only in terms of territory, but also ideas. With such a trajectory, and with many years to come, the trio knows that there are still many stories to tell. No one in the public or industry would be surprised to see Cuarón, del Toro and Iñárritu as the inspiration for a new generation of young directors.
“The only example I can think of of directors who know each other that well is Steven Spielberg, Francis Ford Coppola, and Martin Scorsese. They belong to the same generation, to the same country, the same thing. The three of us share the same circumstances, we come from the same world, and we deeply understand who we are, not only as filmmakers, but as people,” said Iñárritu..
In retrospect, the friendship of Cuarón, del Toro and Iñárritu is one that serves as an example of true support. Although at first achieving success was seen as a complicated goal, today it is something that can be counted as a goal achieved. However, that does not blind them. The films they make do not aim to make large collections, but to portray them on the big screen. Guillermo del Toro sums it up perfectly: “Our films are a biography of each one of us.”
“The focus of our conversations is not even about the movies, but what they are going to mean in our lives, and how they will continue to build the lives we want. That is the most important thing, to share the success and the failures with the other, to understand how that impacts us, and what we learn from it”, added Cuarón.
For now, you can enjoy the most recent works by Iñárritu and del Toro. BARD: False chronicle of a few truthsY pinocchio, are available on Netflix. For his part, Cuarón is adjusting details for the premiere of Disclaimerhis first series, which will come to Apple TV Plus.
Juan Jose Cruz I am one of those who always defended Robert Pattinson as Batman and can see the same movie in the theater up to 7 times. My guilty pleasure? Low budget horror movie.