Many thanks to L for sending in this interview!
Rüdiger Sturm iterviewed Keanu Reeves for Die Welt. Mr. Sturm was very successful getting some nice tidbits out of Keanu during the interview. The German journalists need to interview him more often. Here’s the interview. Note, I used the google translator and smoothed it over as best I could. If any of our German readers notice something that needs to be fixed, please leave a comment.
DW: Your new film has not done so well at the box office, especially in the United States. How hard is it to deal with this?
KR: I take it philosophically. Overall, many people have said to me: “We enjoyed it. We cried…” Thank you!
DW: Why did the film have it so rough (at the box office)?
KR: It’s a pretty daring and unconventional film. The cast consists almost entirely of Japanese and the film was inspired by a historical story. It was very ambitious and not offensive to ones intelligence. There are quite a few things that you can get out of the film.
DW: It showed the martial arts ethics of the samurai. Were you able to identify with it?
KR: Absolutely, I can identify with the samurai philospohy of the Bushido. Above all, the sense of loyalty, commitement to others – and to your descendants. I like the close relationship to nature, which we address in the film. And what I find fascinating is the strict formalism in interpersonal behavior – how you bow wherever you express your view, and how do you place your hands . I had to learn this.
DW: With respect to this asolute loyalty, would you be willing to give your life for someone, like in the movie?
KR: Well, that is the thing with movies. It is easy to say you will die fin the film and then everything is beautiful. But I do believe that I would die for friends and family especially if I feel it in my mind and heart. Aaaah.” (shouts)
DW: Are you looking for love in your life?
KR: I do not think you can look for it. Maybe there is not great love . It is just important that you have a working relationship. And I know when it is not happening and when it is.
DW: And when it is happening?
KR: When I am ready to put aside all selfishness and share completely with my partner.
DW: Have you not been willing to do this?
I’m beginning to give more justice to this idea. I am beginning to see things of lov. On one hand you need intimacy but at the same time your partner should also be your best friend. And you have to trust her.
DW: Is that difficult for you? (I’m assuming he is referring to trust.)
KR: Let’s put it this way – I feel that women are superior to me. They seem to understand what is going on inside with me TBecause they are not as strong, they appear to have evolved to read the minds of men. They are really more advance than we are.
DW: With respect to marriage , that does not scare you?
KR: And if a woman gets involved with you, then she shares her feelings and thoughts with you. This is a great experience. That’s why I like the idea of being with a woman for a lifetime. On the other hand, I do not feel the urge to do that.
DW: You will turn 50 his year.What about starting a family?
KR: I have nothing against it but I do not want to feel pressure to do so.At this age, you get all sorts of thoughts about the things you have not accomplished.
DW: have you experienced a mid-life crisis?
KR: The transition was definitely noticeable. It started with physical things. I suddenly realized that I ‘m not as flexible. That was not pleasant at all. And I have become more aware of the fact that one day I will no longer be on this earth. Previously, I have n’t paid much attention to time. Suddenly I noticed it: Wait a minute, where did the last five years to go? Now I perceive time in a different way.
DW: Do you have any regrets over your lost youth?
KR: This only occurs in people who feel they have not lived their lives. Then they buy a fast sports car to balance things out. But that does not apply to me.
DW: What new beginning do you thinkabout?
KR: Anything is possible. Maybe I’ll retire to a housing development for retirees and get a beer belly. But to be honest, I hope that I will continue to work throughout my life and that I will feel good about it. I have a great energy inside of me for which I need a release valve. And one day, I will reach a point when I am ready to leave this life. (He seems to be saying that work provides him a release for this energy and when the day comes that he won’t have this release value, he will be ready to leave this life (film industry – many thanks to Ansch for the clarification).
DW: And where you go then?
KR: Who knows. It’s a big wild unknown