Carol Kane Reflects on Collaboration with Jason Schwartzman and Aspires to Work with Martin Scorsese

PARK CITY, Utah (AP) — In her latest venture, actress Carol Kane eagerly embraced the opportunity to work with Jason Schwartzman, a choice that pushed her slightly beyond her comfort zone. Filmmaker Nathan Silver presented the concept for “Between the Temples,” a film about the unique friendship between a widow and a widower during winter. Kane’s character, Carla, a retired music teacher, seeks to have her bat mitzvah, and Schwartzman’s Ben, a former student turned cantor, reluctantly agrees to assist. The project had no conventional script but existed somewhere between a script and a treatment, allowing room for creativity and character development.

“The idea sounded pretty fascinating,” shared Kane, 71, in a recent phone interview. “But I was a little trepidatious about working in a way that I never had before.”

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Despite her initial reservations, Kane took the leap with her collaborators. Familiarity with her character, Carla, helped ease the transition.

“The story of Carla is somewhat similar to my mom’s story. She moved to France and started an entirely new life at 55. She just changed her life,” said Kane, with her 97-year-old mother nearby. “I think that there are a lot of very brave women out there sort of trying to reinvent themselves at a certain age when certain responsibilities have freed them to make that choice.”

The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, this week, seeking distribution. Kane praised her experience working with Schwartzman on the intricate, affectionate relationship between Carla and Ben.

“It was like having a great dancing partner,” Kane said. “He’s just a great actor and he’s a great human being. I certainly hope that we will get to do this again sooner rather than later.”

A Storied Career and Aspirations:

• Kane expressed gratitude for the privilege of collaborating with renowned filmmakers throughout her career, including Mike Nichols, Hal Ashby, Sidney Lumet, Woody Allen, Elaine May, and Rob Reiner.
• From her Oscar-nominated role in “Hester Street” to beloved projects like “Taxi,” “The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,” and “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds,” Kane has garnered acclaim and gained new fans.
• While reflecting on her career, Kane revealed her enduring dream of working with Martin Scorsese, considering it a lifelong aspiration.

The seasoned actress remains humble and shares the common anxieties about performance shared by artists across generations. Her recent acknowledgment of Emma Stone’s similar sentiments underscores the universal nature of these fears.

In an industry that constantly challenges performers, Carol Kane continues to embrace new opportunities and dreams of collaborations with iconic directors like Martin Scorsese.