Eric Bana Mentors Teenage Killing Machine in ‘Hanna’
Directed by Joe Wright (“Atonement,” “Pride & Prejudice”) and also starring Cate Blanchett and Saoirse Ronan, “Hanna” will be shown exclusively at Ayala Malls Cinemas (Glorietta 4 & Greenbelt 3) starting Sept. 21.
Raised by her father in the wilds of Finland, Hanna’s upbringing and training have been one and the same, all geared to making her the perfect assassin. The turning point in her adolescence is a sharp one; sent into the world by her father on a mission, Hanna journeys stealthily across Europe while eluding agents dispatched after her by a ruthless intelligence operative with secrets of her own. As she nears her ultimate target, Hanna faces startling revelations about her existence and unexpected questions about her humanity.
At the start of the film, the only person Hanna has in her world is Erik, her widowed father. Actor Eric Bana remembers, “The script reminded me of…nothing; I thought, ‘I haven’t seen this film before.’ I loved that this movie has a teenaged girl as the main character; what an exciting opportunity for Saoirse at this age. Joe’s take on the story fascinated me, so I quickly jumped on board.
“Hanna has to grow up and take on responsibilities, as her parent relinquishes control,” continues Bana. “I’m a parent myself, and I saw Hanna as a heightened version of every parent’s nightmare of their child going off for the first time.”
Bana was also drawn to his character’s complexities. He notes, “There are very traditional fatherly qualities to Erik; he’s a protector and a teacher. He’s forever been preparing Hanna to survive battles both mental and physical, so he’s also like a cruel drill sergeant with her. Yet, when a parent has done a great job of protecting their child from the world, the harsh realities out there are that much more shocking for the child, and Hanna is in real danger.”
Director Joe Wright has nothing but compliments for Bana. “Eric is a terrific actor and is lovely to be around. He is like a ray of light on the set. He’s hilarious, and would keep me smiling on the coldest days in Finland.”
For his part, Bana praises Wright as having “a great sense of humanity, as a person and in his work. He is able to communicate what the scene is about and what he sees in his head, but I know I will still be surprised along with audiences when I see the finished film.”