LONELY PLANET, written and directed by Susannah Grant (ERIN BROKOVICH), is a sweet and charming romance centered around the chemistry-rich relationship between Laura Dern and Liam Hemsworth. Filmed predominantly on-location, the film is also a love letter to Morocco, showcasing the beauty of the country, the people, and the culture. This movie seems like it was really cathartic to shoot, and that peacefulness bleeds into the film itself, making it a relaxing, laid-back watch. So pour yourself a glass of wine and enjoy watching two of Hollywood’s most beautiful people fall in love in one of the most enchanting places in the world.
Katherine (Dern) is going through a tough break-up and trying to get inspiration to cure her writer’s block. So she decides to fly to Morocco and join a writer’s retreat at a beautiful villa. Katherine immerses herself into the environment, but doesn’t pay as much attention to the other people at the retreat. That is, until she meets the handsome Owen (Hemsworth), who is at the retreat with his author-girlfriend… who seems to be letting her newfound writing fame get to her head. When Owen and Katherine meet, it’s clear they have instant chemistry, but will they give in to their desires?
I am so lucky to have gotten the opportunity to interview Laura Dern and Liam Hemsworth about the film! I was so excited to talk to them about the transformative experience of filming in a location like Morocco, and also had some fun asking them what their nicknames are for each other and in their personal lives. Of course, I couldn’t miss out on asking Laura about ENLIGHTENED, one of my favorite series of all time that I continue to hope will get a new season. You can see video of my interviews below and find a transcript of the interviews too! LONELY PLANET streams on Netflix October 11!
I absolutely loved the film. I thought it was so much fun. And I saw it as a love letter to Morocco as much as it was a romance between your two characters. When you’re on set, on location, and in a foreign environment like this, does that help you build your characters more?
Laura Dern: I mean, it definitely helped me build a dependency on Liam Hemsworth. I was like, “please never leave me,” because we were in extraordinary Marrakesh, but we were also in the middle of nowhere, at times filming throughout the Atlas Mountains, and you wanna find your kindred spirit. And I think people feel that way in travel in general because you’re exploring something new and so foreign and untamed, and you don’t know what to expect. And so, yeah, I held on to him for dear life. And there’s nothing like exploring the world with someone you love and feel safe with and you can be most yourself with. And I suppose that is what the movie is about. But we were sort of planted in that circumstance as well as people, which was a beautiful way to explore the movie.
Liam Hemsworth: Yeah, we shot a lot of scenes throughout different places in Morocco that were incredibly immersive. The Marrakesh market that we shot in is like a sensory overload of sounds and colors and animals and smells. And at times it felt like it was Laura and I just walking around Morocco and experiencing that culture and someone was filming it. It was like we were so immersed in these situations. And, you know, the Marrakesh market was one part of it. Is it called the Marrakesh market?
Laura Dern: Yes.
Liam Hemsworth: And then we we did another scene where we went to a real, little village, with a goat… I get off the back of the car with a goat, and met this family there. And again, it felt like we were just coming into someone’s life like, “Oh hey, guys. Let’s have some tea and coffee and some crackers.” And me and Laura were like, “this is amazing.”
Laura Dern: And they were amazing. That was one of my favorite days. It’s a falconer family. And the little girl who we then walked with at the end of the scene—who’s holding my hand—I was told was the great falconer of the family; this young girl who’d learned from the grandfather. And it’s just, yeah, it’s amazing to be planted in an entirely other experience in reality.
Absolutely. And I love how Owen says he’s a nickname guy. So I was wondering for the both of you, did you guys have any nicknames for each other on set? Or just in your personal life, what nicknames do you have?
Liam Hemsworth: I don’t know that I have a nickname for you.
Laura Dern: You should create one.
Liam Hemsworth: Dernsey. Welcome to set, Dernsey.
Laura Dern: That is kind of… that’s a common one, yeah.
Liam Hemsworth: My family nickname is Hemsy, obviously.
Laura Dern: Hemsy and Dernsey, I like it.
Liam Hemsworth: Hemsy and Dernsey, that’s us.
What about you, Laura? Do you have any nicknames in your personal life?
Laura Dern: My friends…sometimes Dernsey is brought up, which is sort of adopted from my dad. But Dern is what a lot of my friends call me for some reason.
Liam Hemsworth: A lot of Americans just go with last name. They don’t even abbreviate it or anything… or make it stupid and fun like we do in Australia.
Laura Dern: I know. It’s true. It’s true. But, again, we’re always getting it from you guys.
Liam Hemsworth: Dernsey, that’s way more fun.
So last question for you guys. I really like how this film shows a transformative travel experience. And I love how Katherine used travel to get her inspiration back for her writing. So I was wondering between the two of you, what would you consider has been a transformative travel experience… if you’ve had one? And maybe it was filming this movie.
Liam Hemsworth: Morocco, yeah. I learned a lot.
Laura Dern: It definitely was transformative. One million percent. One of the most memorable experiences of my life. And, you know, it’s funny…I think I’m maybe more like Katherine than I realized because I love that she is in this magnificent place, but she’s not taking her journal to write on the top of a mountain. She goes into a broom closet. It’s human connection that is the place where she discovers safety and a sense of self, and that is definitely me. I’m a big fan of human connection and dogs.
Liam Hemsworth: Oh God, I love dogs so much! If I see a dog walking by, I’m like “Oh my God, come here!”
Laura Dern: I know! Nothing makes me happier.
Well, I think that comes off in the movie and in your work. Thank you so much. And I have to tell you, I’m a huge fan of ENLIGHTENED. I watch it probably once a year, and so I’m still hoping that we get more ENLIGHTENED one day.
Laura Dern: Well, that means the world to me, and Mike White and I will keep our thinking caps on to do something together again for sure. But it was such an amazing experience, and I love that character so much.
She’s my favorite TV character. No one has more of an arc than her.
Laura Dern: And I think she’s the most like pretty much most of us even leading up to this next presidential election. I feel like everyone is now Amy. She’s a passionate, deep, caring mess.
Liam Hemsworth: Fantastic.
Laura Dern: Sums up American politics.
And I can’t get in an elevator without thinking of her. Again, thank you both so much.