Confirmed: Fionn is a hugger
So I found a site called Unicom.de that interviewed Fionn and Stephane Bak for Roads, the only problem is it’s in German. However, I have nothing better to do as I sit on the tube so I ended up using google to translate the bits with Fionn and I’ve posted it below. If you’re German and know the language feel free to point out mistakes because I can already tell that google must’ve gotten some of the grammar wrong. Enjoy!
This change between seriousness and lightness is also reflected in “Roads” themselves: On the one hand, the two guys have phases in which they totally enjoy their road trip. On the other hand, the fate of refugees is also very present. In addition, prejudices, homophobia and racism are discussed. How do you deal with this when confronted in reality with racism or homophobia?
Fionn: I myself seldom are the target of such hostility because I look like I look. When I travel with friends and we are hostile or confronted with homophobia, I often get extremely angry. But that brings nothing at the moment. For me, it has worked best to make fun of what has been said so far.
When I was six or seven years old, my dad gave me some pretty good advice on the subject: I did not like football that much back then. At some point, the other kids have me, “Are you gay or what !?” called after. My dad then said to me, “If they do that again, just say, ‘No, I’m not, but I wish I was!’” I did that and it worked great. Such a reaction simply confuses people completely, so it works.
Stéphane: That’s why I love your father that way! He is really the best! But I also heard a nice phrase in the church last week: Some people spread this lousy energy because they did not realize that there is light in them either.
I personally believe that every person can change and develop. And that racist people do not necessarily remain racist throughout their lives. They have experienced something specific and do not know how to handle it. Racism and ignorance is the easiest solution for her at the moment. But when you’re reading books, watching movies, or just meeting people on the street and talking to them, that kind of thinking can change all the time.
Why is it that we still have to fight intolerance in 2019?
Fionn (sighs): That’s a far-reaching question. But I have the feeling that topics such as religion, sex, gender, race and so on are always distractions. When people’s anger is directed to a particular group, they can not think about what the real reason is, why they feel angry and powerless. It is much easier and much quicker to blame a group and relieve its anger there than to deal with one’s own situation and bring about social change. That would also mean that you have to review and question yourself, your education and your own environment.
Stéphane: Fionn for President! I’ll give you all my money if you stand for election - in France or as a successor to Theresa May. I would be fully behind you, I just hope you would not push me too many taxes! (Fionn laughs loudly)
In “Roads”, there is an important key scene in which Gyllen tells William that so far each of her choices was crazy, stupid or risky. What was the craziest, dumbest or riskiest thing you ever did?
Stéphane: I’ve done a lot of crazy, stupid, risky things, but I think I should not tell you that. For most of these things, I was also quite young.
Fionn (grinning): I’ve never done anything crazy, stupid or risky in my life. I am super boring!
Stéphane (laughs out loud and talks to Fionn): Sure, there’s a crazy thing you did …
Fionn: No, I’ve never really done anything crazy!
Stéphane (just keep talking): … but and I’m a bit of a pest and tell you - Fionn did his driver’s license only a week before the start of the shoot and we shot a couple of practice rounds in Morocco. I think I’m guilty too …
Fionn: … it’s not your fault, I’m the one who drove!
Stéphane: Yeah, but I was sitting in the back of the camper and listened very loudly Drake, rattled and made nonsense, while Fionn has made his Fahrdebut with the RV …
Fionn (grinning): … I’m just too close range …
Stéphane: … and suddenly there was a big blow! That was definitely a crazy, stupid thing. And maybe a risky decision by Sebastian, our director, to let me into the motor home while you drive with it for the first time. But Fionn really is not the person who does crazy, stupid, risky stuff, he’s a role model!
Fionn (starts laughing): Even if, I would never tell it here.
If you could plan a road trip, where would you go, which vehicle and whom would you take with you?
Fionn (pondering): Phew, maybe Canada or Alaska. I’ve never been there, but it’s certainly beautiful. Or I would go with Stéphane quite classic in a VW camper through Europe.
In “Roads”, there’s a great moment when Gyllen embraces William, insisting that the hug take 20 seconds to release the endorphins in the body. Do you always embrace your friends privately for so long?
Fionn: 20 seconds can be very long. I am already a person who likes to hug and express my friends to the welcome. But I’ve never counted before.
Stéphane: Yeah, Fionn likes to hug, but he also loves tickling people …
Fionn: … no, not people in general. But you in particular! Because I remember that in the beginning you were very distant and formal. And at the same time …
Stéphane: I’m French! We are a little more reserved in terms of body contact.
Fionn: … people can talk well. I wanted to see what’s behind it.
Stéphane (grinning): At least I thought that tickling might be typical British. That’s why I was a bit scared to travel to London. Because who knows, maybe the people in the subway suddenly come up to me to tickle me? But then I realized that this is not British, but just a peculiarity of Fionn.
No, fun - but as Fionn says, I’m actually rather aloof and not the hugger. Meanwhile, I’ve become looser and more confident about my body. I’ll do that more often in the future and hug people who are close to me more often. I took this away with Fionn and the work on “Roads”. And I’ve taken it that it’s very important to meet people with different cultural backgrounds and to shed the fear to talk about feelings and to exchange ideas.
