Ben Rivers on Don DeLillo's Blessing for His Latest Film Mare's Nest

The Unlikely Connection

Film-maker Ben Rivers was stunned to receive a letter from literary titan Don DeLillo in 2017. A mutual friend had sent DeLillo a DVD of Rivers' 2015 film The Sky Trembles and the Earth is Afraid and the Two Eyes Are Not Brothers, and the writer responded with a hand-typed letter praising the film.

The Birth of Mare's Nest

Rivers was emboldened to write to DeLillo in 2020 asking if he could adapt his 2007 play The Word for Snow for his latest film, Mare's Nest. DeLillo gave Rivers his blessing, and the film became a unique adaptation, incorporating DeLillo's dialogue into a larger story about a young girl in a post-apocalyptic world.

The Film's Themes and Inspiration

Mare's Nest explores themes of a world without adults, where children are left to create their own rituals and meanings. The film features a scene where child actors recite DeLillo's dialogue, which Rivers says casts a singular spell. Rivers' work is often informed by literature and seeks to create open, imaginative narratives that involve the audience.

The Impact of DeLillo's Work

Rivers' film is part of a long history of attempts to adapt DeLillo's work. While some have fallen short, Rivers rates Cosmopolis by David Cronenberg as a successful adaptation that preserves DeLillo's tone and language. Rivers hopes to achieve a similar feat with Mare's Nest, which has impressed DeLillo himself.

The Future of Mare's Nest

A screening of Mare's Nest with a Q&A with Ben Rivers will take place at Curzon Bloomsbury on June 16. The film showcases Rivers' unique approach to adapting literary works and his ability to create thought-provoking, visually stunning cinema.