AP Robert Redford is certain he'll be criticized for the political slant of "Lions for Lambs," which opens Friday. "If you miss the point, it would be easy to say this is a left-wing story," he says.

AP Tom Cruise and Robert Redford arrive for the premiere of "Lions for Lambs" last month in Rome. Redford directed the political drama and co-stars in the film with Cruise.

SAN FRANCISCO — Actor and political activist Robert Redford learned a lifelong lesson when he was a teenager.

"At 18, I went to the University of Colorado. I was asked to leave after a year. I went to Europe to study art," Redford said during an interview at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel. "I was living a very Bohemian life with a lot of other students. They would talk about politics all the time and I had nothing to say. That's when I became determined to really read up about my country so I would have an answer for their questions."

He returned to the United States after a few years abroad a "pessimistic optimist." He knew that while the country faced major problems, there was potential for change. It just meant getting involved.

That's why Redford balanced his pursuit of an acting career, spawned by the art he studied overseas and fueled by the set design work he began doing when he returned to the United States, with an interest in history, current events and politics. He was determined never to be politically complacent again.

He's kept that promise to himself for the past 50 years. Redford has fought for social causes such as the environment and American Indian rights. He founded the Sundance Institute and Film Festival, which helps small, independent filmmakers and has become a powerhouse in getting films noticed.

In acting, his movies such as "All the President's Men," "The Candidate" and "Three Days of the Condor" were driven by strong political messages.

Now, he's on the road to talk about his new film, "Lions for Lambs," which represents Redford's passion for politics. He directed the movie, which opens Friday, and co-stars in it with Tom Cruise and Meryl Streep. The film looks at America's current war efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan. But instead of focusing on the gunbattles and big special effects, the movie is about today's politics and how they mirror the past. It has lots of dialogue. Cruise plays a Republican senator, Streep a cable news reporter and Redford a college professor.

"Lions for Lambs" reflects Redford's belief that the American people are being failed by the educational system, politicians and media more interested in small matters such as a celebrity's rehabilitation stay than in bigger, important matters such as the war.

The film deals with the current conflict, but Redford doesn't want "Lions for Lambs" to be lumped in with other recent productions about the war, such as "Rendition," "Kingdom" or "Home of the Brave."

"First of all, if it had just been about the Iraq war, I wouldn't have been as interested in it as other projects I am developing. I knew there would be a lot of films and documentaries about the Iraq war. That is a subject that is well-covered," Redford said. "It is far more interesting for me to do a film that involves education, the media and politics and the military by having these individual stories."

Redford, 71, is certain he'll be hammered by some people in politics and the media because of "Lions for Lambs." He has heard that a conversation on Fox News Channel had led to the question "What's the problem with Redford?"

"My problem is that I love this country. I wanted to make this film because I am in mourning for my country. The film is about frustration. It's about sadness. It is about what we have lost that we didn't have to lose because we let this happen.

"I accept the fact that there will be some controversy. The sad thing is that some of the controversy will be biased because our country is so polarized right now, it is horrible. Therefore, there will be those people out there who mischaracterize the film. If you miss the point, it would be easy to say this is a left-wing story."

But the actor isn't complaining. He long ago accepted the fact that he's not going to please everyone.

Redford only wants to make people think.

"How long can we sit with things going downhill because they are being masterminded by people with the same attitude we have seen before? People will say there is a similarity between what is going on and the Vietnam War. Well, yeah. Why? Look at Nixon. Look at Bush," Redford said.

Despite the frustration that travels through Redford's voice in waves, there is still a part of him that remains optimistic. He talks about how all that it would take is a little more education.

"If people with broader education went into politics, we wouldn't have these kind of characters. If young people were more educated about our political system, they would demand certain things they are not demanding now. So, where is the seed that will change this? I think it is education," Redford said.

It was that optimism that caused Redford to agree to direct "Lions for Lambs." He has directed only six other films since his directorial debut, the 1980 movie "Ordinary People."

Asked to speak as Robert Redford the actor, talking about Robert Redford the director, he said: "He is hard to please but easy to work for. I give actors leeway. I have strong feelings about what should come out of their performance, but not by telling them to raise their eyebrows here or there. I give them a guide and edge them this way or that way."

And with "Lions for Lambs," Redford wants to edge the American people to move this way or that way when it comes to politics.