Cate Blanchett directs first film

CEBU, Philippines - Cate Blanchett is taking her screen talents behind the camera.

The Academy Award-winning actress will be making her film directing debut with an adaptation of the Herman Koch novel “The Dinner.”

The international bestseller by the Dutch author is a psychological thriller telling a dark tale about two couples who are struggling to make a tough decision regarding their teenage sons, and the entire story unfolds while they’re gathered for dinner at a high-end restaurant in Amsterdam.

This will be the first time the actress is directing a film, but it won’t be the first time she’s taken on that role.

Blanchett spent the last five years as co-artistic director of the Sydney Theatre Company alongside her husband, playwright Andrew Upton, and she directed stagings of David Harrower’s “Blackbird” and Joan Didion’s memoir “The Year of Magical Thinking.” (FREEMAN)