«From» is a small masterpiece, touching in the relationships between its characters. This is how two of the main actors of the Cast see it
A mix of horror and science fiction that recalls the timeless masterpiece on the one hand Loston the other the wonderful (and disturbing) stories of Stephen King. It comes to life from the fusion of these two excellences Fromset in a city located in an indefinite place and time, available in Italy on Paramount+.
The day passes peacefully for the inhabitants, between consolidated routines and chatter in the restaurant. At least until the sun goes down. At that moment, routine turns into an inferno of unpredictability. And here Sheriff Boyd Stevens warns everyone to immediately lock themselves in their homes, equipped with very particular amulets that keep any monster away. Yet, these terrifying and powerful entities reign undisturbed during the night, manipulating the thoughts and desires of citizens, irreparably damaging anyone who breaks their rules. We talk about it with the actors Catalina Sandina Moreno And Scott McCord (in the series, respectively, Tabitha Matthews and Victor).
The relationship between Tabitha and Victor is unique: she is a mother who has lost a son, and he is a “man-child” who has lost his mother. Do you feel that your characters have “adopted” each other to fill those emotional gaps?
Yes, since the first season you can sense how warm Tabitha is towards Victor for no apparent reason. The way she treats him is affectionate, full of care and patience. Only a mother could treat a child like that. This is one of the best things about the series: we know nothing about our characters, while the creators know everything. So they start building relationships from the beginning, so that they make sense once we have the answers. It’s the first time Victor feels affection for someone, when they started connecting in the tunnels. Then, the most significant moment is when Tabitha hugs him in season two. There is definitely a maternal element to this relationship. And it is in that moment, and in that embrace, that the void you were referring to was filled.
What do you think the “boy in white” really represents for Victor? Is it a friend, a guide, or perhaps a part of his own psyche trying to keep him from losing his mind?
After the massacre, the first thing Victor saw was the “child in white”. For him, he was a friend and a guide. But there was a long period, before the arrival of the Matthews family (Tabitha’s family), in which Victor did not see the “baby in white”. For this reason, he convinced himself that it was all a dream. However, the story between the two of them continues to evolve. It can be said that the “child in white” is a guide for everyone: he appears in the moments when the characters need help most, he provides them with direction in that crazy place so that they do not fall into complete despair.
Tabitha has an instinctive tendency to “rewrite” reality to protect her children. How did you work on this trait to ensure that it didn’t feel like a mere weakness, but rather a defense mechanism resulting from the loss of Thomas?
It’s all in the script. When you have great writing and a creator who knows what he’s doing, you can abandon yourself to the writing itself, and that’s half your job. Between me and John Griffin (the director of From) there is a great collaborative relationship; we had long discussions about how my character (Tabitha) would speak to the children, how she would relate to them and why she acts a certain way. It’s not a clash, but a creative and friendly collaboration in which we build something together starting from both of our ideas.
Victor is the tragic heart of From. In your opinion, is his knowledge of the City a gift that will ultimately save him, or is it the curse that will keep him tied to that place forever?
I think that’s the charm of the whole story, because we don’t know and Victor doesn’t know either. I think he is aware of these things, and is pushed into even greater awareness by Tabitha, thanks to the trust he places in her. His memories are both his gift and his curse. Victor himself said it at the beginning of the series, while drawing Juliet: “I wasn’t sure if they were dreams or not.” So what he experiences is a beautiful conflict. But I hope he can get out of it. It would be nice for him to have a normal life in the outside world, to enjoy his father, to enjoy reality. But in the city of Fromyou never know what could happen.
