- Title: FILM-ROOM/PREMIERE Award-winning drama 'ROOM' opens its door in Los Angeles
- Date: 14th October 2015
- Summary: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (OCTOBER 13, 2015) (REUTERS) ****WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** VARIOUS OF ACTRESS BRIE LARSON POSING FOR PHOTOGRAPHS ACTRESS JOAN ALLEN GREETS ACTOR WILLIAM H. MACY WRITER EMMA DONOGHUE TO CHILD ACTOR JACOB TREMBLAY POSING WITH UNIDENTIFIED GIRL PHOTOGRAPHERS CAST AND CREW OF 'ROOM' (L-R, DIRECTOR LENNY ABRAHAMSON, BRIE LARSO
- Embargoed: 29th October 2015 12:00
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- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVADX6ZZU75SDLZO64LY239ZXUKQ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: The People's Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival has in recent years been an indicator of Oscar success. Previous winners have included 'Slumdog Millionaire', 'The King's Speech' and '12 Years a Slave'.
This year's winner was Lenny Abrahamson's 'ROOM' - the story of young mother Ma and her young son Jack kept captive together in a confined space with only each other as company.
As the story progresses, the effect of the room over their lives becomes more and more apparent, which, according to co-star Joan Allen, is what has generated such interest from audiences.
"It has a universality to it," she said at the Los Angeles premiere on Tuesday (October 13), adding "This family is really trying to find its way back together and there's just the wonder of the little boy being in the world for the first time and I think it's just a very hopeful film because characters are trying to come to terms with something that is extremely difficult and painful and they're really prevailing and making their best efforts and it's a real testament to that love and strength."
Critics have applauded the performances of both lead actress Brie Larson and her on-screen son Jacob Tremblay.
"I had to stay out of the sun to get rather pale because she doesn't have any sunlight in 'ROOM' and I went on a restrictive diet and I was working out to gain muscle and worked with a trauma specialist to talk about how the brain would organise itself around the sexual abuse and being trapped in a room that long but it didn't stick to me," admitted Larson. "I did learn new things about myself and how strong I am and how much love and compassion I have inside myself so they were all positives that I experienced but that's what always happens with every job - you learn new things as you go through it."
Larson gave out a cheer when she saw her young co-star on the red carpet at the Pacific Design Center. "He's just the greatest person ever that I loved spending every day with. His age and his size didn't matter so much, it was more the care and compassion I had for another human being," she said of acting alongside him.
"ROOM" was originally an award-winning novel by Emma Donoghue. The Irish Canadian writer turned out at the premiere for the film, which she also wrote the screenplay for.
"This is just a dream come true, I have to say, you know. It's my first film and it's nothing like promoting a book is. There's a lot more glitz to it and I just couldn't be happier that this beautiful film is reaching its audience," she said.
"ROOM" goes on release in New York and Los Angeles on October 16 and then nationwide in North America on November 16. It looks set for release in Europe in early 2016. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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