A trailer has been released for Without Blood, a new film directed by Angelina Jolie and starring Oscar-nominated actress Salma Hayek. Hayek leads the project as Nina, a woman seeking revenge following the horrific murder of her family.
The upcoming feature also stars Academy Award nominee Demián Bichir alongside Hayek. In the newly released trailer, Hayek's character describes revenge as the drug that allows people to fight.
Storyline and adaptation of Without Blood
Written and directed by Jolie, Without Blood is based on the best-selling novel of the same name by Italian author Alessandro Baricco. The narrative unfolds after the conclusion of an armed conflict, following Nina as she carries out a multi-year plan of quiet revenge for the killing of her relatives.
The film marks Jolie's sixth feature film as a director and her first directorial effort since her 2017 movie First They Killed My Father. Jolie previously directed films including the 2014 World War II drama Unbroken and the 2011 story In the Land of Blood and Honey, while Hayek earned her Oscar nomination for her performance in the 2002 biographical drama Frida. Bichir received his own Academy Award nomination for his lead performance in the 2011 drama A Better Life.
Hayek on initial hesitation and working with Jolie
Hayek previously revealed to Entertainment Weekly that she initially hesitated to take on the lead role, stating she did not want to make the film or portray Nina. She explained that she did not want to travel emotionally to the places her character had experienced, telling Jolie that the role felt too painful to take on after spending years reaching a happy point in her own life.
Hayek said the role demanded being at one's physical and emotional limits every hour of the day. She noted that because the film features little action, there was nowhere to hide, meaning any moment of inattention would be immediately visible on screen. Jolie eventually convinced her to accept the demanding role following numerous long conversations.
Themes of trauma and emotional recovery
The film explores central themes surrounding war, trauma, memory and healing. Hayek explained that she feared reliving personal traumas during production, even though her own experiences were completely different from those of her character.
She added that women could relate their own struggles to the character's journey, referencing experiences of being sidelined, having men make major life decisions without giving women a choice, feeling paralyzed after having power taken away at a young age, and carrying trauma without knowing how to escape it before ultimately discovering strength through anger and hatred.
Praise for Jolie's directorial approach
Despite having worked with many of the film industry's most prominent filmmakers throughout her career, Hayek described Jolie as the best director she has ever worked with. She stated that she had never felt so valued on a film set, noting that Jolie recognized her suitability for the role even when Hayek doubted herself.
Hayek added that she could call Jolie at three in the morning in complete despair and that Jolie would willingly travel across town in the middle of the night to offer a supportive hug.
