Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on April 2013

Sometimes a movie begins life not in a studio executive’s office, but in the family. That was the case when Dustin Hoffman [pictured] directed his first film after nearly half a century as an acclaimed actor.

“I have been with my wife for 36 years, and she has seen me start many scripts and not finish. This time she said ‘if you don’t make this movie I’m going to leave you,’ Hoffman recalled during a recent visit to Tokyo. “I said, ‘If I make it and it is not a hit, I am leaving you,’” the two time Oscar-winner joked.

The result of this challenge from his wife is Quartet, set in a British home for retired musicians. “We see older people, but we think they are far away from our reality. But then we wake up one morning and we are one,” said the filmmaker, who gave his age as “75 and a half”. Hoffman praised his “heroic” cast, including Maggie Smith, who continues to work at the age of 78 despite problems with her eyesight and the need of a cane.

He also hired musicians in their 70s and 80s for bit parts, explaining that many of them had not had work offers in 20 or 30 years. “How many of you have a parent or a grandparent who have been told, ‘You are too old. We are firing you.’?” Hoffman asked while speaking of an “older people revolution.” “This is a film set in a retirement home, but the people refuse to retire.”

Quartet is currently screening at Bunkamura’s Le Cinema, 2-24-1 Dogenzaka, Shibuya-ku; www.bunkamura.co.jp