TOKYO —

“I feel like I am on the couch in a psychiatrist’s office with everybody waiting for some clever answer about who I am,” says Ethan Hawke, as he sits back to analyze his latest film, “The Hottest State,” which is based on his 1996 novel of the same name. Hawke wrote the screenplay, as well as directing and appearing in the film, which was produced by a Japanese company.

The film tells the story of 20-year-old struggling actor William (Mark Webber), who is smitten by aspiring singer Sarah (Catalina Sandino Moreno). They spend an idyllic week together in Mexico where he is filming a movie; then Sarah returns ahead of him to New York to pursue her career. When William returns later, she is not anxious for the relationship to continue. The film chronicles William’s attempts at the loser’s game of trying to get her to love him, while he also tries to come to terms with the separation of his parents (Hawke and Laura Linney) when he was a child.

“It’s not a memoir, but it is certainly drawn from details of my life,” acknowledges Hawke, 37. “I’ve always loved personal stories that blur the line between life and art. I didn’t worry about baring my soul like that, but the danger is when you do self-reflective art, it can very easily be self-indulgent.”

Born in Austin, Texas, Hawke moved around with his mother after his parents separated when he was 5. After studying theater in the U.S. and Britain, he got his first big break in the 1988 film “Dead Poets’ Society.” He went on to appear in such films as “Alive,” “Reality Bites,” “Before Sunrise,” “Gattaca,” “Great Expectations,” “Training Day” (for which he received a best supporting actor Oscar nomination) and “Before Sunset” (for which he received a screenwriting Oscar nomination). Hawke has also directed films, acted in theater and written a second novel, “Ash Wednesday.”

“I wrote ‘The Hottest State’ when I was very young and there were aspects I didn’t completely understand,” Hawke says. “The book is about how deeply our knowledge of love is formed in us by our relationship with our parents. William is longing for a mentor. Until he is confident within himself and heal the real wound (his relationship with his father), he won’t be able to have a romantic relationship. Making the film version 10 years on was, for me, a fun way to revisit the material and try and improve it a little bit.”

Hawke says he was approached by others who were interested in making the movie version of his book, “but never by people I wanted to do it,” he says simply. “I had no interest in directing myself, but the people who I liked all said that I should do it. I didn’t plan to act in it either. I asked a lot of people I knew but scheduling was hard in Texas and New York for such a small part, and, of course, I had no money. In the end, I am glad I directed and appeared in it. I have daydreamed about making this movie for 10 years. The look, feel and sound are so much a part of me.”

Hawke says one of the biggest challenges in his life now is balancing his work commitments with his children. He has two children with Uma Thurman, to whom he was married from 1998-2004, and he has another child on the way with his current partner. “Largely what I have done in the last four years is a tremendous amount of theater. Theater is something I can do creatively and still be at home. Acting is a tough job for a parent. When you go away on location, you can bring your kids with you but once they get to a certain age, they need to be in school and they want to be with their friends.”

As we finish, Hawke returns to the psychiatrist’s couch. “I am at a moment in my life where I’ve gotten to do so many things that I dreamed of doing as a young man. Now I am trying to figure out how to be of use in the world and in my life. What exactly am I living for? I guess my hottest state is expressing myself better as a person and artist.”

5 Comments

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  jerseyboy at 10:40 AM JST - 8th May

  If he is doing self-analysis, he should start with the most obvious question -- Why in the world did he cheat on Uma Thurman? As Jay Leno famously said to Hugh Grant after his daliance with the street hooker: "What in the world were you thinking?"

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  Altria at 10:46 AM JST - 8th May

  I thought Ethan Hawke was just a character in a Tom Cruise movie...

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  frontandcentre at 02:46 PM JST - 8th May

  jerseyboy - In my opinion, Hugh was less of a fool than Ethan. Liz Hurley's ropey, to be honest. After 6 years with the same woman, even if it's Uma, well, the seven year itch would explain it. The grass is always greener on the other side

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  magpie at 06:09 PM JST - 9th May

  frontandcentre....from where I'm standing, the grass is always greener on Uma Thurman's side...

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  cracaphat at 04:07 PM JST - 10th May

  It's only greener if you weren't looking after your side.

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