When Dennis Quaid first read the script for Truth he said it was like watching the film. On Thursday night Quaid, cinephiles and East End locals got to experience the real thing when Truth opened the 23rd Hamptons International Film Festival.
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“Dan Rather was an icon to me,” said Quaid.
The film, a first from Director James Vanderbilt, is based on the 2005 memoir written by CBS producer Mary Mapes, Truth and Duty: The Press, the President and the Privilege of Power. In the film, Quaid is Colonel Roger Charles who was part of the original investigative team, Blanchett is Mapes and Redford depicts the iconic news anchor Rather. Truth explores the tension at the intersection of politics and journalism that existed while developing the hour-long segment and through rebuilding the journalists’ own reputations after the second airing of 60 Minutes II.
“The ‘truth’ is as close as you can get without politicizing it,” Quaid said. “No character [in the film] was treated as a villain. They were real people who have families and a life. Everyone was just trying to do their job.”
Truth sold out opening night of HIFF and post-screening, Artistic Director David Nugent, sat down with Quaid, Vanderbilt and Producer Brad Fischer to discuss the highlights of the film and to answer questions from the audience.
“It was a dark period in their professional life,” he said. “They were there [on set] but did not impose themselves.”
HIFF runs through Oct 12. For film and event programming, tickets to shows and all other information, visit hamptonsfilmfest.org