ROBERT REDFORD DIRECTS AMERICAN STORIES

Robert Redford is only interested in putting his directing stamp on films about America.

Robert Redford stars as a college professor in Lions for Lambs who not only tries to instill values learned in the classroom but imparts real life wisdom to his graduating students, namely those who are contemplating careers in the military.

Redford, who rarely steps behind the camera these days, let alone in front of it unless there’s good reason to, says he was attracted to the political themes that touch on the love for his country.

“I’ve always been interested in politics as a subject because I’m basically just interested in America. I’m not so much interested in making films about other countries, that’s up to other people in other countries but for me the fundamental theme for me is what about my country. What are the themes within my own country that are ongoing. So this fell into that category.”

The politics of Lions for Lambs highlights interwoven stories featuring Meryl Streep’s journalist interviewing Tom Cruise’s senator about a resolution in Iraq while two of Redford’s former students are caught in harms way in Afghanistan

“It would be very easy to take this film and wrap a nice ribbon around it and say, ‘OK this is what we think you should think,’ or this is what our answer is to the problem. No it’s here’s how on a personal basis these stories develop hopefully dramatically to a point where it comes right back to you, what would you do. How do you feel about it? So in a sense the film, it’s not about the war, it’s not about any current event. It’s about what are the factors that have repeated patterns over time.”

Lions for Lambs also starring Michael Pena, Derek Luke and newcomer Andrew Garfield is currently playing in theaters.