In her sophomore feature film, Love Lies Bleeding, director Rose Glass explores the world of bodybuilding and its undeniable allure. The movie follows the story of Lou, played by Kristen Stewart, a gym manager in a small American town, who finds herself drawn to a bodybuilder named Jackie, portrayed by Katy O'Brian. As their relationship develops, they must navigate the dangerous world of Lou's father, an arms dealer running the local crime ring, played by Ed Harris.
Glass recently discussed her inspiration for the film and how she approached the writing process, stating that the initial idea of exploring a female bodybuilder's life intrigued her. She found it to be a psychologically rich territory, filled with ambition and unique challenges. The concept took shape as Glass co-wrote the script with Weronika Tofilska, allowing for a collaborative and less isolating experience compared to her previous film, Saint Maud.
The director's fascination with the relationship between individuals and their bodies drove her to explore the world of bodybuilding. Glass acknowledges her limited knowledge about the sport initially, only having seen an old photograph of a strong woman billed as a sideshow attraction from the 1940s or 1950s. She discovered that female bodybuilding as a professional sport didn't emerge until the 1960s or 1970s, which further piqued her interest.
The extremity and obsession within the bodybuilding subculture fascinated Glass. She noted the contradictory nature of the sport, where participants strive to achieve incredible physical strength and muscles, yet it is all ultimately for aesthetic purposes rather than functional ones. The intense dedication and physical transformations that bodybuilders undergo, often ending up dehydrated for competitions, further contributed to the intrigue behind bodybuilding as a central theme in the film.
When it came to setting the story, Glass had initially contemplated placing it in Scotland, but she ultimately settled on America. With the prevalence of crime, cover-ups, and a mixture of muscle and gun culture, the vastness of America created a backdrop that made the narrative feel more plausible and relevant. Glass herself found the casualness of firearms in America remarkable, as it differed greatly from her experiences in Europe.
As Glass designed the overall look and feel of the film, she focused less on specific visual references and more on creating a heightened, melodramatic atmosphere. She aimed to capture the grittiness and dreaminess found in films like Saturday Night Fever and the storytelling momentum of Showgirls. These influences helped shape the texture and tone she wanted to achieve while exploring the intense story at the heart of Love Lies Bleeding.
One of the most challenging roles to cast was that of Jackie, the bodybuilder who captures Lou's heart. Glass hoped to find an actor who was not only skilled but also possessed a background in bodybuilding. After an extensive search, Katy O'Brian, who had experience in martial arts and had previously competed in bodybuilding, came across the casting call. She impressed the team with her audition tape and was ultimately cast alongside Kristen Stewart.
Throughout her conversation, Glass revealed the personal and creative journey she embarked on while making Love Lies Bleeding. By delving into the world of bodybuilding and combining elements of crime and romance, she aimed to create a visually striking film that explores the complex relationships individuals have with their bodies and the external expressions of their inner selves.
As Love Lies Bleeding premieres at the Berlin Film Festival, audiences eagerly anticipate experiencing Glass's unique storytelling and her ability to captivate viewers with her characters' struggles, ambition, and undeniable physicality.
