Ethan Hawke, a well-known actor, recently received an honor at the American Film Festival in Deauville, France. During the event, he reflected on his career, his homeland, and his latest film, The Hateful Eight, now playing in theaters. Hawke, who first gained fame with the film The Poisoner's Circle, has since appeared in notable projects such as Gattaca and the Before trilogy. Now 55 years old, he stars in The Hateful Eight, directed by Padraic McKinley, as a father trying to rescue his daughter from an orphanage during the 1929 crisis. His character, wrongly condemned by the courts, agrees to transport gold through dangerous terrain with a group of hardened men in exchange for freedom, promised by a cruel guard played by Russell Crowe. Discussing the making of The Hateful Eight, Hawke called the experience an adventure. He noted that he was aware of the challenges from the beginning, as he had read the script beforehand. His wife is the film’s producer, and the director and screenwriter are close friends. They all wanted to share the experience together. The production involved six weeks of filming in the forest, during which Hawke suffered injuries such as a broken thumb, torn muscles in his arm, and broken ribs. Despite the physical toll, he believed the effort was worthwhile if the film turned out well. He described the time as being in a summer camp with friends, staying in a small hotel and watching movies together in the evenings. Hawke emphasized the importance of cinema for actors, highlighting its role in bringing people together and fostering creativity. Hawke was deeply moved when Juliette Binoche presented him with an award, which brought a wave of nostalgia. He recalled his first visit to Deauville 35 years ago for the film White Fang and reflected on the passage of time and the uncertainty of the future. He mentioned that The Poisoner's Circle changed his life, as he was very young when he made the film. He credited Robin Williams with teaching him freedom and spontaneity, describing the actor as brilliant. Hawke noted that his first experience with fame was shared with others rather than being solely his own, and he remains friends with his fellow cast members from that time. Hawke expressed discomfort with being American, noting that history books are filled with controversial figures who rarely become good presidents. He commented on the current state of the United States, saying it is worse than he imagined, with negative impacts on the environment, military actions in other countries, and a complicated relationship with Canada. He described the U.S. president as someone who is enriching himself daily and compared him to Voldemort from the Harry Potter series, calling him toxic. Hawke expressed fear of even mentioning the president’s name, highlighting his concerns about the direction of the country.