LittleWhiteLies: Sean Harris on 'Saxon'

Following the release of Saxon on DVD, LittleWhiteLies published an all-too-brief interview with Sean about the film. From the answers that Sean gives, it strikes me that this article may well have been part of the DVD interview that he did for Saxon.

Q: Saxon's been called western, a Brit-flick, a comedy, a noir, a thriller. How do you see it?

Sean: I think it comes from the '80's arthouse movie thing, like Terence Davies and Derek Jarman. It's not The Full Monty or Lock Stock or any of those Brit-flicks. It's a slow-burner. You have to pay attention. There are no gimmicks. It's a very odd piece.

Q: Did you enjoy taking a lead role?

SEAN: I haven't ever carried a film before. I don't think I'm charismatic enough. (We think you are, Sean! ) I was lucky. The lack of finances for the film from the big companies meant I got the part. I enjoyed it.

Q: Eddie is an anti-hero?

SEAN [interrupting]: He's not a hero. He's a criminal. He's killed someone. You don't reform from killing someone. He's a struggling alcoholic. He's got a bit of charm to him, but he's a loser. He's a tryer, but he's not a success.

Q: Do you think that makes him easier to relate to?

SEAN: I can relate to crime, drugs, alcohol; the world he's been bought up in. All those things I totally get. (Sean has mentioned that he knew and grew up with drug users; and that booze, prostitution and violence were very relevant to him) But you get these things in that are very British and the industry doesn't want that 'Britishness' unless it's fashionable. It's all about what's cool. what can be sold, what makes money.


Cross-posted to the Sean Harris messageboard.