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Revenge.

alfiebarnyruss
Tue, 06 Nov 2018 13:24:53 GMT

Hello! My name is Alfie Russ, First of all, I'd like to say I'm a fan of your work, namely Gladiator. I'm currently writing a dissertation on character investment in revenge films, and was wondering what you thought about the merits of revenge stories? if that theme of story personally resonates with you in any way? Gladiator, to me, and a lot of others, is one of the best revenge films ever made, and I thought it would be good to hear from one of its writers! Thanks Alfie Russ

William Nicholson
Tue, 06 Nov 2018 13:45:39 GMT

Revenge is a terrific story driver, and of course I respond to it like everyone else, but no, I'm not a fan of revenge in itself. All my contributions to Gladiator - and I was only one of three writers - drove the other element of the story, which is love: Maximus's love for his wife and child, and his longing to be reunited with them. Perhaps that's one of the reasons the film works so well: a combination of two very different emotions.