Natalie Portman has joined the growing list of actresses who are now working behind the camera through her Cannes Film Festival feature-length directorial debut "A Tale of Love and Darkness."

The film is based on an autobiographical literary work of Amos Oz published in 2002 that tells a troubled family's story amidst the early statehood of Israel, The Guardian reported.

It focuses on a boy who had faced life's realities such as disappointment and death, The Associated Press described further.

Not Political a Political Film

Although the film may sound like it has a political theme in it, the "Black Swan" actress clarified otherwise in an AP interview over the weekend.

"I think the movie is very much about this very particular, specific family story," she said. "Of course, it happens at a crazy moment in history, which I think is a big sort of weight on their backs. It's sort of a pressure cooker for the family, but there's not really a political agenda behind it."

In the interview, Portman also commended the author of the 2002 memoir because of his contribution to Israel.

"Oz became one of Israel's leading peace advocates, so it's not the most controversial, I suppose, of political aspects to the film," she said.

The Film's Language

Portman, who was born in Israel, created the screenplay in Hebrew as she believed that it is an integral part of the film.

"The language is so important to the story and such an important character," the 33-year-old actress said. "Someone said to me once, 'Americans always want to make foreign movies and have French characters or Spanish characters speak English, but with a French accent or Spanish accent and it's so silly.' Could you imagine making a movie about George Washington in French and having him have an American accent in French?"

"A Tale of Love and Darkness," which also stars Portman as Fania, the young boy's cultured and imaginative mother, got a "lukewarm response" from film critics, but was well-received at its premiere.

Directing as a Creative Outlet

Although Portman just had her first directorial film released in Cannes, she already directed a short film in 2008 titled "Eve," and it was featured at the Venice Film Festival. In a report from The Herald, the Oscar-winning actress revealed why she turned into directing from acting.

"I was always interested in trying to write and direct," Portman admitted. "We have so much time off between filming as actors that we tend to get restless and we want a creative outlet."

Watch a clip from Portman's Cannes movie: