In a recent conversation with the Telegraph, Angelina Jolie candidly discusses her post-Brad Pitt life. Despite maintaining her strong and self-assured image, the actress acknowledges the difficulties she has faced while promoting her latest film. She admits to feeling somewhat bashful and less resilient than her previous self. These press rounds mark her return after a considerable time, and the experience has proven to be challenging for her.
Jolie took on multiple roles in her latest film endeavor, First They Killed My Father, where she served as both co-writer and director, in addition to being a producer. Set against the backdrop of Cambodia, the movie delves into the devastating Khmer Rogue genocide and draws inspiration from Loung Ung’s memoir from 2000. Simultaneously, Jolie navigated the difficult process of ending her marriage to Brad Pitt, and she openly acknowledges the hardships of being single, a circumstance she never sought. Despite maintaining a seemingly composed demeanor, Jolie has faced emotional struggles throughout this year, as well as the need to closely monitor her health due to certain issues.
While shooting her most recent project, Jolie enjoyed constant support from her children, who stood by her throughout the process. Notably, Maddox, whom Jolie adopted from Cambodia as a baby, played a crucial part in the film’s creation. With the intention of familiarizing him with Cambodia’s vibrant heritage, Jolie considered the movie an enlightening experience for both of them. Maddox’s active involvement in the research and editing stages proved to be of immense value. His youthful viewpoint allowed him to provide invaluable feedback, such as identifying overly complicated or uninteresting scenes. All in all, his presence was a significant asset to the production.
She shares her immense admiration for the children, whom she finds to be absolutely extraordinary. Their beautiful acts of unity and helpfulness towards each other and even towards herself have deeply moved her. Following the triumph of her film, “First They Killed My Father,” Jolie intends to take a well-deserved break and enjoy precious moments with her loved ones in their brand new residence in Los Angeles. Interestingly, this stunning property, formerly belonging to the renowned Hollywood figure Cecil B de Mille, was claimed by Jolie for an impressive sum of $24.5 million.
As she ponders, she muses, “There’s a part of me that longs to reconnect with my past self. Life has certainly presented its fair share of challenges – I’ve experienced the loss of dear ones, battled health issues, and devoted myself to raising my children. It has been a period of personal growth and acquiring knowledge. However, now that my children are growing older, it dawns on me that I have temporarily sidelined my own sense of playfulness. Perhaps as they enter their teenage years, it will awaken the fun-loving spirit within me once more.” She lets out a light-hearted chuckle, remarking, “I suppose it’s about time for a nostalgic return to my origins.”
Mark your calendars because First They Killed My Father is making its debut on Netflix on September 15th.