Although Seraphim Falls deals with Civil War-era adversaries, the anti-war theme still resonates with us and the problems behind today?s wars ? both at home and in the Middle East. Playing characters at war with one another against a magnificent backdrop ranging from snow-packed mountains to the lifeless desert floor, Pierce Brosnan and Liam Neeson vividly bring this revenge and redemption western to the screen.

Brosnan is loner Gideon, shot in the arm and forced to abandon his horse and rifle. He tumbles down multiple snowbanks, falls into a frigid river, plummets over a waterfall and loses his heavy coat before extricating himself. He excruciatingly removes the bullet with his outsized hunting knife, cauterizing the gaping wound.

Bosnan describes in this interview filming in 47 days in New Mexico, and the difficulty of braving the elements. But he felt that this indie film was worth all of the effort.

Debra Wallace: Where does Seraphim Falls stand in the world of cinema?

PIERCE BROSNAN: It stands proudly there. I think it?s a graceful film. Is it a perfect film, no? But it has a dignity and a style, and an eloquence that will stand the test of time. It speaks well and quietly about the meaninglessness of war. It comes at a point in the history of this country that is torn asunder with confusion of war.

DW: How would the film have been different if the men weren?t from opposing sides of the Civil War, if they were civilians?

PB: It would have diluted any kind of impact this film has. That war created such a cleft in the soul of this country, the psyche of this country. It?s war of ideology with a fever that has never been seen since. It just wouldn?t have had the same impact. It would have just been civilians. These are men, soldiers who have been mangled by war. My character is reclusive and looking for faith, and Liam's is fiercesome in his resolve to seek my death.

DW: It is the war that is known to have pitted brother against brother.

PB: Yes. When you look at the history books and things that have been written about this war, it?s so well documented. My character, to lose two sons in the battle of Antietam, that leads him to be cold and adrift. (Antietam is the bloodiest one-day battle in US history in which 23,000 soldiers were killed, wounded or missing after twelve hours of savage combat, on September 17, 1862.)

DW: The natural landscapes play an immense part in this film and you're a concerned environmentalist, aren't you?

PB: This particular government, and the environmental rollbacks, have just been staggeringly awful. And unjust to the earth. But you've got to have faith I think, and hope. And you've got to know that there are good people out there. And this government will pass.

But what will be left, the residue, and certain issues that have been put in place, we will live with for many generations to come. And, you know, shame on them, really. You want to have faith in your leaders. And it's very hard to have faith in this man, in this government.

DW: This film deals a lot with revenge and forgiveness. Have you ever had to deal with that with someone?

PB: Revenge, never. Forgiveness, yes. Forgiveness is the mightiest thing to come to terms with.

DW: What?s the idea of doing a western in today?s movie world? It?s no longer a popular genre, especially with young people.

PB: I disagree. I showed this film to 12 and 13 year olds, and they were engrossed. Loved it. They ate it up in Malibu at a friend?s house, and they loved it. My five-year-old saw it, too. I think I have altered his psyche for the rest of his life. A tough little boy.

DW: Please go on.

PB: Well, I took the knife as a memento from the film ? had it in a shadowbox and just got it delivered to the house that day. And he was going around with this knife, It?s unsharpened, but it has a mighty blade. He took it to the screening with moms and dads and 10 year olds, and he lost it, holding the knife. He was in my arms crying, sobbing.

DW: How come you are no longer wearing the beard from the film?

PB: I was so glad to get that thing off. My wife hated it. It took me about eight weeks to grow it. Beards are a great thing. They change your persona considerably. I certainly wanted to do that is this movie. I didn?t want my mug hanging out!

If you look at the history books, you see men with the most flamboyant of beards. That?s why I grew it. It gave me character. It gave me somewhere to start from along with the wonderful script from (writer/director) David Von Ancken. Which came to me with Liam Leeson attached.

DW: So would you say your character was on a spiritual journey?

PB: It became that. But when I read it, I didn?t see that. Rather, it was a man being hunted. And you ask, why, why? There?s a passion to live, despite the fact that?s he?s living dead, and too spineless to take his own life. And put himself out of his misery.

He has a religion. He has a faith. That all came out of the day-to-day living against that landscape. Which is very powerful, outside Santa Fe, New Mexico. Just being in the elements from sun-up to sundown.

DW: Could Gideon have killed Carver at any time?

PB: He avoided doing it. He doesn?t want to kill. Yes, he could have.

DW: This is a very physical performance in Seraphim Falls ? falling into frigid water, riding horses, and braving the elements. Did you have outdoors experience where you knew you could go out there and give a gutsy physical performance?

PB: I?ve spent time in the outdoors, camping, finding my way. I read maps. I had training in that early on in my life. I was going to go into the army. So I used guns as part of my youth. That part of filmmaking I really enjoy, the experience of going far flung places ? whether it be Panama, India. Making films which bring adventure into your life. The flair of storytelling. It was tough. I knew it was going to be tough, but that was the challenge. I knew we were in capable hands. It was a story about redemption, forgiveness and war.

DW: It was a great shocker, you coming out of the dead horse?s carcass.

PB: It was a Hollywood horse that was made. A very expensive prop. It worked well. When it came rumbling across the prairie that day we thought, oh lord, it?s really pythonesque. We got away with it. It has some good shock value.

DW: How do you get through such intense cold, was it whisky?

PB: Whiskey shots came into play in flasks a lot! (He laughed). Luckily there was no dialogue, so it was just me being drunk. I was a drunken actor! Don?t write that, it?s not true.

DW: Why not let the stuntman go into the brutally cold water during the scene at the falls?

PB: Because it?s exciting. Because people want to see something. They go to the movies to be turned on, excited, challenged. To feel the fear of raging hydraulics. The falls were terrifying and exhilarating at the same time. Can you get away with it? And we did. I was tethered on wires for some of it. You think it?s safe, the wires can tangle your legs or they can tangle your neck. And the man who went over the falls for me, Mark, he did an amazing job going over the waterfalls. The next day I had to go to the bottom of the falls, he was on this wire, in knee deep water. And got knocked down by the waves, and held under. But nobody knew, he was drowning in four foot of water. He could see the guys, his buddies, who were all concentrated on me. They were all watching me.

DW: How many takes of the water scene can you do?

PB: Two or three. Tops. It?s a thousand knives in your head. The next day I free fall. I just dropped on.

DW: Another new movie project of yours is Biazarro, in which you are playing a gambler. Is that one of the attractions, real rooms with heat?

PB: Yes! You can only do this so long in life. and then the body will...I don?t wish to be doing this in 10 years time.

DW: Is Pierce Brosnan re-characterizing his life? Have you shaken or stirred your image?

PB: Groan.

DW: Where do you go from here after Matador and this? Are there more challenges?

PB: It?s paving the way hopefully for a third act. Or whatever act or the road ahead as an act. To stay employed, to stay excited, to stay at the table. To stay in the game as long as you can. And to be able to look at your hand and say, 'I created these five roles, and these five films which have character growth.'

DW: Do you feel this movie should have been released in December for the Oscars?

PB: No thought of that. I would do myself injustice, do my head in wishing and wanting. It?s all such a game.

DW: So what do you think of Daniel Craig and your James Bond legacy now?

PB: He?s the greatest Bond ever, and deservedly so. It?s there for the taking, and I?m proud and still honored that I was part of that legacy. I haven?t seen the film. I will see the film. I thought Daniel was a great choice. They were courageous, shockingly courageous in their dealings. But life goes on. It?s just another quiver.

DW: Is it liberating to you now work-wise, that it?s over?

PB. Oh, yeah. The day the phone call went down and they had changed their minds, there was the shock and there was the great relief of free - freedom. It comes with a great responsibility, playing that role. So it gives you a hunger. It?s good to have hunger, it?s good to fight, to have desire as an actor. You get complacent to have a role like that, the luxury of doing one every 18 months. It focused my attention to what I want to do with my career, and the choices I want to make.

DW: You?ve done a lot of adventurous stuff with your own production company. Is that where you?re going?

PB: Yeah, With Ms. St. Claire. God bless her, she has a few tricks up her sleeves! I found out you can be an 'unexpected' surprise.

DW: You?re wearing many hats, like producer. Are you also writing, because you've talked about that.

PB: Yeah, but I haven?t really put my mind to writing. We?re still trying to do Charlotte Doyle. Danny and I spoke just last night. Right now it?s great just putting pictures together.

But laziness is a big factor. Sitting there and having the great idea is different than putting the bloody idea on paper. You know, sitting there day in and day out, doing it.

DW: You have another movie with Maria Bello and Gerard Butler called Butterfly On A Wheel?

PB: (My character), he?s a psychopath. A very angry man. He could easily kill. I take them for a day and persecute them.

DW: So this is really another turn in what you are stretching yourself for?

PB: You don?t know if he?s an IRA terrorist or hit man, you don?t know who he is. But he?s mangling these people?s lives one day.

DW: Is the Thomas Crown Affair (sequel) going to be made this year? (It?s called The Topkapi Affair).

PB: Yes, it set sail.

DW: Do you know who your leading lady will be?

PB: I don?t. I have no idea.

DW: Is it a lot different for you being an actor or a producer?

PB: It?s much more stressful when you find yourself questioning yourself, the motivation of doing a film and keeping the confidence going. Thrillers are hard to do, because you have to be ahead of the curve the whole time. In this particular one I had a crisis of confidence. If you're just responsible for your role and it?s not going well, that?s it and you say, ?I?m going home. And having a beer. If the sun is going down and you have $11 million or $6 million of someone else?s money.?

Debra L. Wallace
Arts Magazine Online
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Debra L. Wallace writes for Direct TV Guide and Marie Claire Italy.