James Gray Discusses Politics, Unexpected Parallels in ‘Paper Tiger’
TL/DR –
James Gray, director of “Paper Tiger”, has stated that he doesn’t wish to be overtly political with his films, despite the unexpected political parallels his latest film has taken on. The film, initially conceived as a sequel to “Armageddon Time,” focuses on a family threatened by Russian mobsters, which has drawn comparisons to former US President Donald Trump’s use of the term “paper tiger” to describe Russia’s actions in Ukraine. Gray’s films often chronicle personal chapters of his life through genre storytelling, with “Paper Tiger” incorporating his experience of watching his father become a criminal.
Latest Film by Director James Gray Sparks Unexpected Political Parallels
“Paper Tiger“, the festival tour film by director James Gray, has ignited unforeseen political comparisons. Featuring Adam Driver, Scarlett Johansson, and Miles Teller, the film intentionally avoids being a political platform.
Speaking to Variety at the film’s New York Film Festival, Gray said, “All movies are political, but I prefer films with subtext. I don’t want to preach. Art is not Sunday school.”
“Paper Tiger” has inadvertently mirrored a recurring term used by President Donald Trump to describe the invasion of Ukraine by Vladimir Putin.
Trump posted on Truth Social describing Russia’s prolonged war as making them look like ‘a paper tiger’.
Interestingly, “Paper Tiger”, a crime drama about a family threatened by Russian mobsters, wrapped its filming before Trump started using the term.
The movie is largely influenced by Gray’s personal experiences. Earlier works such as “The Yards” and “Armageddon Time” depict intimate chapters of his life through various genres.
In “Paper Tiger”, Adam Driver plays a former cop who involves his brother in a precarious business deal with the Russian mafia. The danger disrupts his brother’s family life, pushing them into a scenario where they realize they have underestimated their adversaries.
Gray explains the term paper tiger, highlighting its profound relevance. “This term was originally [popularized] by Mao Zedong in China to describe us,” he says. “It’s the brittleness that’s underneath all of us no matter how tough we think we are.”
Hours prior to the “Paper Tiger” premiere, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that Trump was setting up a peace agreement with Russia and Ukraine. However, Gray remained tight-lipped when probed if Trump himself could be considered a paper tiger.
Gray merely responded with, “No comment.”
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