For Denis and Pattinson, a cosmic connection in ‘High Life’

NEW YORK (AP) — Robert Pattinson has been willing to be stretched and contorted by some of the most adventurous directors in film. But even for him, “High Life” is a new frontier.

Directed by the French filmmaker Claire Denis, “High Life” is about a ship full of convicts hurtling through space. It’s Denis’ first English language movie and it’s been hailed as one of the best of the year.

It was Pattinson who pursued Denis. A fan of her films, he tried for years to get a meeting with her. Eventually, Pattinson landed one and happily signed up even though, he acknowledges in an interview, he had “no idea” what Denis’ treatment meant.

“High Life” expands nationwide in theaters this Friday.