‘The Revenant’ Pays Homage to Great Filmmaking: Inarritu

The film looks likely to be an Oscar frontrunner after picking up three awards at Sunday’s Golden Globes.

The Revenant looks likely to be an Oscar frontrunner after picking up three awards at Sunday’s Golden Globes – best drama film, best drama actor for DiCaprio and best director for Inarritu.

Inspired by real events, The Revenant tells the story of fur trapper Hugh Glass (Leonardo DiCaprio), who on an expedition in the 1820s was mauled by a bear and left for dead by his team.

He survives and sets out to exact revenge on those who abandoned him.

To give the film an authentic feel, Inarritu, who won the best director and best picture Oscars for Birdman in 2015, cut back on special effects, using natural light.

This is an homage to how filmmaking was done in the origins by going to real places and not modify or play with pixels and computerised images.

Alejandro G Inarritu, Director

The Revenant was filmed in Canada and Argentina and the cast and crew endured tough outdoor locations and harsh weather conditions.

It was not a comfortable shoot at all. But in that sense, it’s what the film is about and it has its rewards. It really portrays nature as it is, not in the way we see it in a park but as it is for real.

Alejandro G. Inarritu, Director

Will Poulter, who plays Glass’ young apprentice Bridger also added that the trying conditions allowed for a more authentic performance.