Sitting in the Undefined: Philip Ettinger on The Evening Hour | Interviews

What I get from what you’re saying is that in playing those emotions, that perhaps in your day-to-day life are difficult to pinpoint, through these characters they become clearer.

You’re searching, man. Every job is an experiment and you get a whole bunch of people who have an idea of how they feel about the script, which is great. You have those conversations and then when you’re in it, you’re just creating. And hopefully everyone involved is learning on a deeper level why they’re even there, like what it all means anyway, that’s to me the best part. Working with someone like Braden or Derek Cianfrance, they’re just seekers and they just want to discover a moment. It’s all about trying to represent emotions that are truthful enough so that if anyone watches and relates on any level and there’s that connection, that’s what it’s all about, man. I grew up going through my own stuff and anytime I watched a movie and it looked like something that I was feeling, it made me feel less alone in the world. It’s funny, even doing press for this thing; I’m meeting you over zoom. We’re separated from each other and I do this to feel a connection between everyone. What’s the point of being here other than trying to connect, feel less alone, and find a common ground?

On that note, spirituality seems to run deep in “The Evening Hour.” Not only in how often bible verses are quoted throughout, but also in the way it’s shot, with the bright light of day washing over the land. Do you consider yourself a spiritual person and do you recognize that spirituality in the film?

I definitely consider myself a spiritual person. I believe in the connection between all of us. We shot in Harlan County, Kentucky where you get a 360 view of the Appalachian Mountains around you. It’s beautiful. Time is slower there. The colors are a little brighter. People look you in the eye and everyone’s just a little more present. I just tried to absorb that as much as possible. There’s a scene in the movie where Cole walks into his grandfather’s church and he gets emotional in that moment. That’s a real church. It’s been there for a long time. I walked in there, and it wasn’t even a scripted thing, and just felt the energy of that the space. It moved me, man. Those are the cool things as an actor. That was unplanned and it was such a beautiful experience for me because I was really opening myself enough to feel the energy in the room. The movie deals a lot with religion, but I love the fact that spirituality can be deep rooted and it’s a beautiful thing. There are parts of that to which he really connects to and then there are things that he has to do that maybe go against his faith a little bit. In the whole script everything is present, but nothing is judged as good or bad. I felt like a really special, spiritual production. We were all letting it speak to us in a way.

Thinking about that I’m reminded of your character in “First Reformed,” Michael, who is on the other extreme side of the spectrum when it comes to faith. Did playing him challenged or made you reconsider your own beliefs? It’s such a scene-stealing performance.

Thanks, man. I had that long scene, it was like 18 pages when we shot it with Ethan and it’s crazy because I look back on that time and it feels like a memory of a real conversation. I love playing these characters, like Michael in “First Reformed.” He has so much love inside of him, but also walks the line of what it feels like when you’ve exhausted your hope and you’ve fallen into despair. I love these complex characters. The things that Michael does you can judge in a certain way, but it’s very rare that any of us are bad people. We’re all just trying to find connection and love and meaning in this world. And it’s complicated. Cole also does things that he compartmentalizes in his brain, but he knows it’s not good, but also he’s just trying to find a way and life just gets complicated. It’s not so cut and dry, sometimes there’s so much grayness to it. It’s interesting for me because I have more questions than answers in my own life, so it’s cool that I’ve been able to play roles that have help me try to seek purpose and understand why we’re here. Not to get like too deep. I don’t know about you man, but there are relationships or family members or people in my life that I may have had resentments towards, but as you get older you realize everyone is just trying to do their best.