The highly anticipated film, The Thing With Feathers, directed by Dylan Southern, features Benedict Cumberbatch in a poignant adaptation of Max Porter’s award-winning book, Grief Is the Thing With Feathers. The film recently premiered at the 69th BFI London Film Festival following its world debut at the Sundance Film Festival. The story follows a father, played by Cumberbatch, and his two young sons as they navigate their grief after the sudden loss of their wife and mother.
Southern, who previously gained recognition for his music documentaries, including Meet Me in the Bathroom and Shut Up and Play the Hits, outlined the journey of bringing this deeply emotional narrative to life. He shared, “I optioned the book on my own. I did everything you’re not meant to as a filmmaker. I spent my own money. And I was sort of in the hole. But I believed in this book and the idea of this film so much that I just kept pushing it and pushing it.”
The director noted that he was not alone in his admiration for the source material. After learning that Cumberbatch was a fan of the book, Southern decided to send him the script, expecting a long wait for a response. To his surprise, he received a reply within two weeks from Cumberbatch’s production company, SunnyMarch, indicating that the actor was interested in meeting him.
“I was never expecting to get an actor of his stature in the film,” Southern recalled, acknowledging his nerves as a first-time narrative filmmaker. However, he found a kindred spirit in Cumberbatch. “He was such a great collaborator,” Southern remarked. “He asked as many questions of me as I asked him, and he eased me into it.”
The development of their working relationship was crucial, especially considering the limited time available for shooting. Southern humorously noted, “I’d been thinking about this film for years, and then suddenly you have six weeks, and you have to make it.” The experience on set proved exhilarating; he shared, “The first time I called ‘action,’ I forgot to call ‘cut’ because I was so mesmerized by his performance.”
Looking ahead, Southern indicated a potential return to documentaries, specifically mentioning the legendary band Oasis. He joked about being drawn back into the music world, stating, “The ask came from Oasis, if I and my directing partner would cover their reunion.” Despite this detour, he is also committed to writing his next feature film.
He described the new project as diverging from the emotional arc of The Thing With Feathers. “The next thing I’m doing is completely plot-driven with character. It’s a London-based thriller,” Southern explained, hinting at a different approach to storytelling that emphasizes narrative structure.
As Southern continues to explore the realms of both documentary and narrative filmmaking, his recent experiences have solidified his resolve. He reflected, “I wrote another film, an original film, and worked on that for five years and got to the point where we were casting and location scouting. But then the whole thing fell apart. That’s where I learned you have to have really thick skin.”
With his debut narrative feature already creating buzz, audiences can expect more from Southern as he navigates future projects, whether in the documentary space or the evolving world of fictional storytelling.
