Certain films have left their mark on the history of pop culture. The production of a nugget, however, relies on a fragile balance that is often unknown to the general public. From casting to script choices, through enmities or moments of grace, the destiny of a creation sometimes reveals real surprises. Here are 4 filming secrets on Matrix by Lana Wachowski and Lilly Wachowski.
Filming was difficult for Keanu Reeves
Keanu Reeves is known for his tenacity and resilience, but it is often overlooked that he underwent spinal cord surgery shortly before the film was filmed. It was about dealing with the actor’s difficulties in maintaining balance.
He was nevertheless able to play his role as Neo, and did not feel any discomfort in scenes that did not require difficult movements. Towards the end of production, he insisted on participating in certain fight sequences, even though the operation required him not to create unnecessary strain on his spine. This is also why his character kicks a lot in these passages.
The clothes used were very cheap
Screenrant informs us that the unique outfits that made the Matrix trademark were actually very inexpensive, particularly for budget reasons. Thus, Trinity’s clothes are made from PVC, a very inexpensive synthetic plastic, as for Neo’s coat, it is inexpensive wool. Regardless, they are now very well established in popular culture.
The cast was forced to read philosophy books before filming
Indie Wire reports that the Wachowski sisters gave intensive philosophy lessons to the actors. In particular, they had to read the book by Frenchman Jean Baudrillard “Simulacra and simulation” which examines the relationship between reality and symbols and how culture and media construct an understanding of humanity’s common world.
Some actors didn’t understand anything about the script
Several stars of this feature film confided that they found the story of Matrix very confusing when reading the script for the first time. But this is not the case for Laurence Fishburne who didn’t really see why his colleagues didn’t understand the pitch. He also doubted that this project would come to fruition, because he found it “too smart”.
That’s all for this week. Are you one of the die-hard fans of this film? Don’t hesitate to remind us of your memories in the comments. If you liked the article, you can always find the previous part of this section here.
