"I played in Russian, I thought in Spanish, I communicated with Sasha Petrov in English."
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- "I played in Russian, I thought in Spanish, I communicated with Sasha Petrov in English."
On the Russian screens January 23rd comes out the comedy "Basil" directed by Dmitry Litvinenko with Sasha Petrov in the role of twin brothers and Barbara de Rehil in the image of Bonita in love with them - a girl Mexican criminal authority. Part of the shooting took place in the homeland of the actress, including in dangerous neighborhoods. In an exclusive interview with Izvestia, Barbara told about stereotypes about cartels, headaches because of the difficult Russian language, support for Sasha Petrov and impressions of her first visit to Moscow.
"All the words were difficult. But I would single out 'nasty' and 'get acquainted'."
- Congratulations on your upcoming premiere. How did you get into this project and why were you interested in starring in a Russian movie?
- First of all, thank you for your congratulations! I didn't expect the movie to come out so great. I was just contacted at the time. The casting was held in Mexico, in Spanish. The director Dima was there. He asked me to audition in Russian. And I was like, "Yeah, why not?" I don't know how, but I did it. I think I didn't speak well that day, but I tried, and that's the point. I think Dima looked at me like, "She's not afraid and she's trying."
- I've already watched "Vasily." You really speak Russian a lot and very well there. How did you find the foreign language?
- It was actually very difficult. I literally always had a headache. I had to work in three languages at once: play in Russian, think in Spanish, and communicate with Sasha, for example, in English. It was a huge stress because of that.
- What was the most difficult to pronounce?
- Almost all the words were difficult. But I would single out "ugly" and "get acquainted". It was also very difficult to pronounce certain sounds in the words "was" and "shoot". Thank God, I was corrected by the director, and we managed to do it.
- Did Sasha Petrov help you with this? How did you work with him?
- He always calmed me down. When I couldn't pronounce a word and started to stress, he would say: "Everything is fine! Don't worry!" He was really nice and kind to me. It's so cool that I got to do a movie with him! This is a great luck for me.
- In the movie we see the cartel, its connection with the police, a child waving a gun. Is this a Mexican reality today or a stereotype?
- I think it is a stereotype. Cartels in Mexico are as much a stereotype as the fact that all Russians wear ushanka hats.
In Mexican movies there are cartels, but it's not like that in real life. Mexicans stick these cartels in their movies to add action.
- As part of the cultural code?
- Of course, drug dealers exist. But it has nothing to do with the cultural code, such characters are simply used in action movies.
"Everything is so beautifully decorated, I want to stay here!"
- Right now, the top movie of the ongoing awards season about Mexico is "Emilia Perez," which first made headlines at Cannes, then at the Golden Globes. Are you familiar with it? And if so, do you recognize your country there, or is it shown more accurately in "Vasilia"?
- I haven't seen the movie "Emilia Perez", although I've certainly heard of it. But it seems to me that "Basil" looks like the real Mexico. She looks beautiful there. I haven't seen the picture yet, unfortunately. Perhaps the episodes we shot in the tunnels, in the church, in Chachalacas and Veracruz somehow represent Mexico.
Although, by the way, we shot scenes in dangerous neighborhoods as well. I remember we were in some woods. I sent the location to my husband and he said: "What are you doing there? It's so dangerous!" I was like, "Really?" And that day I was like, "Oh my God, why are we here?" Time was going on, it was 1:00 in the morning. And I told Sasha that we need to hurry up because it's really dangerous here and maybe, I don't know, 300 guys are going to come and take everything away from us. He asked seriously, "Really?" I replied, "Yes!" (Laughs).
- Speaking of stereotypes. As far as I know, this is your first time in Russia. How did you imagine the country and its people before and how has your opinion changed now that you are here? Apart from the ushanka hat.
- In fact, I knew nothing about Russia at all. I didn't have the opportunity to learn anything or come here. I was not attracted to the country, perhaps because of its location - you see, it's a 25-hour flight! But nevertheless, when I found myself here, I was amazed by the beauty of Moscow. Russians are incredible - pleasant, kind. I felt their warmth and generosity. I absolutely loved the New Year's fair on Red Square! Everything is so beautifully decorated that I want to stay here!
- What else did you have time to see in Moscow? You were also in the Bolshoi Theater, right?
- Yes, I enjoyed it very much. The Bolshoi Theater inside is so delightfully beautiful. We also went to GUM, walked around Red Square, saw St. Basil's Cathedral, and went to restaurants.
- Did you get acquainted with Russian cuisine?
- I tried olivier, herring, pancakes. Now I want to cook them in Mexico. I really liked your cuisine, but it's not very similar to ours. I'm in love with Mexican cuisine. We add a lot of sauces, beans. We have different dishes with beans, frijoles and tacos.
- Do you have a desire after filming in "Vasily" to take part in another Russian-Mexican project, and perhaps such proposals are already available?
- I would very much like to star in some more Russian movies. This time, probably in an action movie.
