Laura Chen talks about Suncoast starring Woody Harrelson and Nico Parker – The Hollywood Reporter

Woody Harrelson couldn’t make it Hollywood ReporterChat at the Sundance Film Festival with Sun coast Writer-director Laura Chen and co-stars Laura Linney and Ariel Martin. However, Chen and Linney highlighted what Harrelson brought to his role.

in Sun coast, which is partly based on Chen’s own life, Harrelson’s character Paul is an activist who protests in favor of Terri Schiavo’s right to live while in a comatose state. He befriends Doris (Nico Parker), a high school student whose unconscious brother is being held in the same facility as Schiavo.

Speaking about the dynamic between Paul and Doris’ characters, Lenny, who plays Doris’ mother Christine, said, “What’s also interesting is when you have conviction on opposite sides of an issue. Conviction is the same, and conviction, if allowed, can connect… People. But the point of view is very different, but it’s always interesting to me how very similar the convictions are.

The on-screen relationship between Harrelson and Parker translated off-screen as well. Chen noted that Harrelson and Parker shared a natural on-screen chemistry, thanks in part to Harrelson starring alongside Parker’s mother Thandiewe Newton in the film single.

“Woody and Nico were adorable together. That was it, how safe he made her feel,” said Chen. “He had worked with her mother before, so it was great… they felt like family. Listening to them guide her and give her advice – they were very, very nice. That was my take away, I was so grateful that she was so young and so new to all of this, and that he was there for her.

Watch the full interview in the video above.