The news of Robert Redford’s passing today pushed me to unearth a still-relevant interview he generously gave me during my college days. I’d like to add to the outpouring of tributes being made online this week because Redford’s words are still so relevant to modern-day politics and American life, sad to say.

For my readers who are unfamiliar with Redford, he was often described as “prescient” primarily due to the prophetic nature of his political films, The Candidate (1972), Three Days of the Condor (1975), All the President’s Men (1976), and the overlooked Lions for Lambs (2007).

I interviewed him when I was a freshman in college at the University of Illinois at Chicago, while promoting Lions for Lambs—his last political movie, which he directed and starred in. Though the off-campus newspaper for my newspaper (The Chicago Flame) no longer exists, I’ll never forget the experiences it afforded me.

In person, Robert Redford was everything you hope Robert Redford would be. And I wish you could have seen his eyes open when I asked him an off-the-script question about his favorite ski spot. Not to overshadow his passionate philanthropy and activism, but his other reputation for being an outdoor sportsman definitely holds. And in that moment of finding out I was a fellow skier and truly wanted to get his advice on which ski resort was better (Deer Valley versus Aspen, and so forth) was the kind of talking shop I didn’t know would happen. Priceless memory, from a priceless public figure.

I hope you enjoy and feel fired up by this blast from the past interview, fired up to not give up hope on making the world a better place.

“Lions for Lambs” A Powerful Must-See Film

“Lions for Lambs” is the must-see film for our generation, a cinematic experience of politics, ethics, and soul that can’t be missed on its world-wide release November 9^th, 2007 . 

“Lions for Lambs” presents three angles of the political process; one atop Capitol Hill, where a veteran journalist (Meryl Streep) must choose between revealing the faulty plans of an ambitious senator (Tom Cruise) or remaining a complacent member of the propaganda press. The second is in Afghanistan, where two hardworking college graduates (Antwone Fisher and Michael Peña) make the ultimate sacrifice in being key elements in the senator’s military mission to win the War on Terror. The final angle is at an university, where a privileged, intelligent, but jaded undergraduate (Andrew Garfield) is mentored by the same political science professor (Robert Redford) who inspired the two soldiers now in Afghanistan. Each angle of the process powers the other, by the decisions and actions of each individual, ultimately impacting all of U.S. society.  

The film is a study of ourselves with a mirror to the face propped up by director Robert Redford, who makes the story easy to follow, but like a strong shot of whiskey to take-in. By the last word “He’s not going to fail me,” uttered by the ‘next-big-thing’ in film Andrew Garfield, you will be both very inspired and outraged; whether at the government or yourself.  

The film is a wake-up call for our generation to take a stand for ourselves and our country. We are at the same crucial point in our history (as our parents and those before us) where if we don’t act, we sacrifice everything by doing nothing.  

After the press-screening of the film, I sat down to speak with Michael Peña, Andrew Garfield, and Robert Redford at the Four Seasons Hotel, to better understand their efforts in the film.

Robert Redford On His Film “Lions for Lambs”

(Me, then Stephanie Jevtić): What does “Lions for Lambs” suggest for our generation, to make a difference? What did you want us to notice, to examine more in order to understand the concept of the film? 

Robert Redford: The film suggests for you guys to have a role in your future. Step up to the plate because things will be worse without you. 

We made a solid choice not to lean heavy on issues. But we wanted to ask people, is there anything you recognize on the issues in the film? Is there a pattern you see and if you know it and how it goes, are you willing to do something about it, to stop it, and make a difference?

To make a difference, pay attention to who’s out there. Show concern about your country and who’s running it. Winning is more important than anything now. That’s bad criteria for a leadership.

Look underneath, the film shows an arc of history which I lived through: World War II; McCarthyism; Watergate; Iran contra; and now the war in Iraq. And those leaders who caused or didn’t do anything to stop these things keep coming back to power, and you wonder why do they keep repeating themselves? Look at history, there is a mindset that shows up. We’ve got the same deal now that we’ve always had and which we keep repeating. 

SJ: What led you to this project? 

RR: “All the President’s Men” led to this film. Nixon thought would never happen. This film shows how we can prevent the same things from happening.

SJ: Do you know what your next project will be? Can I ask?

RR: I do. (Frisky eyes) I’ll tell you it’s “Against All Enemies.” It’s about the man who informed Condoleezza Rice about 9/11, before it happened; it’s based on a novel. 

SJ: What would you do now to cause positive change?

RR: Start a campus paper, protest. Do a little corporate takeover; joking. But it all starts now with you guys; at this time. College is a great opportunity. Boy do we need you guys right now.