Overview of Ben Shapiro on Making “Confession”
This interview focuses on Ben Shapiro discussing the making of Confession, a Daily Wire film he wrote and considers his most ambitious creative project to date. Shapiro explains the film’s creative origins, its compressed two-room structure, the themes of Soviet tyranny, faith, and moral courage, and the impressive cast and director that helped bring it to life. He also emphasizes that while the film is rooted in historical realities, it is ultimately designed as a character-driven, suspenseful, and redemptive piece of art rather than simple political messaging.
Main Themes and Purpose of the Film
State tyranny vs. individual conscience
- Shapiro says the film is centered on the effect of state oppression on the individual.
- The story explores how people respond when confronted by fear, coercion, and impossible moral choices.
- A major concern of the film is whether faith and principle can survive under totalitarian rule.
Faith, communism, and freedom
- Shapiro argues that the film connects anti-communism and anti-Christian repression because Marxism is fundamentally materialist.
- He frames communism as hostile to spiritual values, religion, and human dignity.
- The film is intended to highlight the conflict between a godless state and people who believe in higher truths.
A redemptive, not just political, story
- He stresses that Confession is not merely “red meat” political commentary like some prior Daily Wire projects.
- Instead, it is meant to be a serious work of art about human beings, sacrifice, and redemption.
- His hope is that viewers come away with a renewed appreciation for freedom and for principles worth suffering for.
Writing Process and Creative Approach
Built from character first
- Shapiro says he started by designing the central characters and their motivations.
- He wanted every major character to have a meaningful arc and to hold a strong argument of their own.
- No character was written as a straw man; even opposing ideological positions were given serious weight.
Inspired by Russian literature and anti-totalitarian fiction
- He cites Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, Chekhov, Solzhenitsyn, Arthur Koestler, and Vasily Grossman as major influences.
- Those writers shaped his thinking about tyranny, morality, and the human soul under pressure.
- The film reflects his long-standing fascination with Soviet history and literary explorations of power.
Fast, classical script structure
- Shapiro says the script took him about four days to write.
- He describes his process as highly focused and classical, with clear plot beats and rising tension.
- He also notes that he had written scripts before, but this is the first one that was fully produced.
Production and Cast
A small, intense setting
- The film largely takes place in just two rooms:
- an interrogation room
- a holding cell
- This limitation was intentional, creating intense spatial and time pressure.
- The goal was to make the movie feel like a pressure cooker.
Why the setting works
- Shapiro explains that the compressed setting allowed the production to focus on performance and suspense.
- He wanted the film to feel claustrophobic, terrifying, and emotionally charged.
- The outside world is barely shown, heightening the sense of confinement.
Cast highlights
- Rob Lowe plays Alexei, a disgraced Russian literature professor and former informer.
- James Franco plays Vladimir, the interrogator, and Shapiro says he delivers a magnetic performance.
- Nick Nolte plays an older political figure and brings gravity and authenticity.
- Emile Hirsch, Richard Brake, Jennifer Jason Leigh, and Cody Smith-McPhee are also praised for strong performances.
How the cast came together
- Rob Lowe was the first major actor involved.
- Lowe initially seemed “wrong” for the role physically, but became deeply moved by the script and wanted to join.
- Once Lowe and Franco were in, the project gained momentum and attracted more talent.
- Shapiro says director Václav Marhoul was a perfect fit and a major draw for the cast.
Direction and Visual Style
Václav Marhoul’s influence
- Shapiro says Marhoul’s direction is a huge part of why the film works.
- He praises Marhoul’s visual sensibility and ability to make a two-room movie feel cinematic.
- He compares the style to the influence of Tarkovsky and notes a connection to The Painted Bird.
Unusual filming process
- The film was shot on 35mm with a single camera.
- Scenes were filmed in very short segments, often in chronological order.
- Shapiro describes the process as technically demanding but artistically rewarding.
Historical Accuracy and Dramatic License
Based on real Soviet practices
- Shapiro says many details are historically grounded, including:
- the use of a “standing cell” in the Lubyanka
- interrogation tactics used by Soviet authorities
- the overall atmosphere of fear and coercion
- He wanted the setting and dialogue to feel authentic to the Stalin era.
Where the film takes liberties
- Some geography and scene arrangements were adjusted for dramatic effect.
- Shapiro says realism matters, but the story also needs cinematic compression.
- He emphasizes that nothing in the film should feel anachronistic or out of place.
What Shapiro Hopes Viewers Take Away
Core emotional and intellectual takeaways
- The tragedy of tyranny
- The wonder of freedom
- The idea that some principles are worth living and dying for
Final message
- Shapiro hopes the film sparks reflection about courage, faith, and resistance to oppression.
- He sees Confession as a movie that should resonate both politically and spiritually.
- His final pitch is that it is more than a film: it is, in his view, a meaningful artistic statement.
Notable Takeaways
- Shapiro believes Confession is the best film Daily Wire has made.
- He sees it as a serious artistic work, not just a political project.
- The film’s tension comes from its claustrophobic setting and morally complex characters.
- Historical truth, literary influence, and strong performances were central to the film’s success.