Two-time Oscar winnerJodie Fosteris set to direct and star in an English-language remake of the Icelandic eco-thrillerWoman at War,it was announced Monday.Benedikt Erlingssondirected the original film, which is Iceland’s official submission for this year’s foreign language Oscar.
Woman at WarstarsHalldóra Geirharðsdóttiras a genial music teacher who moonlights as an environmental activist bent on sabotaging the local aluminum industry. When she receives unexpected news that her adoption application has been approved and a baby girl is waiting for her in Ukraine, she commits to one last mission, all while government agents close in on her identity.
Woman at Warpremiered in May at the Cannes Film Festival, where the feminist fable won the screenwriting prize in the Critics' Week section. Fostertold DeadlinethatWoman at War"thrilled me beyond words" and called the protagonist “warrior for the planet, a strong woman who risks it all to do the right thing.” The filmmaker said she was drawn to its “bold and quirky mixture of humor and emotion,” and apparently she plans to relocate the film’s setting from Iceland to the American West.
Foster has a bit of a mixed track record as a director. She’s never directed a turkey, but she’s never hit a home run either. She seems to have cooled with each film, starting out hot withLittle Man Tate(73 percent fresh on Rotten Tomatoes), followed by diminishing returns forHome for the Holidays(63%),The Beaver(61%) andMoney Monster(58%). Foster most recently directed the “Arkangel” episode ofBlack Mirrorand to be honest, it may be the best thing she’s ever done behind the camera.
Of course, Foster is, first and foremost, an actor, and she’s one of the very best there is, having won Oscars forThe AccusedandThe Silence of the Lambs. She hasn’t been nominated since 1994’sNell, but that’s simply due to her choice of material. She always brings it onscreen, fromContact,Panic RoomandInside MantoThe Brave One,ElysiumandHotel Artemis.Woman at Warstrikes me as a solid role for Foster, so let’s just hope she has the deft touch behind the camera to make the most of this acting opportunity.
Erlingsson co-wrote Woman at War withÓlafur Egilssonand also produced alongsideMarianne SlotandCarine Leblancof Slot Machine. Slot will produce the remake with Foster’s Egg Pictures. Foster is represented by CAA, and you can watch the trailer for the original Icelandic film below.
