Tony Leung Discovers Terrestrial Bond in Exclusive Poster for Ildikó Enyedi’s Silent Friend
Ildikó Enyedi, the director behind the Oscar-nominated *On Body and Soul*, has teamed up with Tony Leung and Léa Seydoux for *Silent Friend*, which weaves together three stories linked to a tree over more than a century. After its premieres at Venice and TIFF, 1-2 Special will launch the film in the U.S. on May 8, and we are thrilled to exclusively reveal the U.S. poster. Additionally, Film at Lincoln Center in New York City will hold a retrospective honoring Tony Leung from April 29 to May 7, featuring the actor in attendance.
The film's synopsis reads: “Set against the backdrop of a grand ginkgo tree in a botanical garden of a medieval university town in Germany, the narrative unfolds over a hundred years, with the tree observing the subtle rhythms of change through three lifetimes. In 2020, a neuroscientist from Hong Kong delves into the minds of infants, leading to an unexpected experiment involving the ancient tree. In 1972, a young student experiences a profound shift through the simple act of engaging with a geranium. Meanwhile, in 1908, the university’s first female student, through photography, unveils celestial patterns found in the simplest of plants. Each character is transformed by nature's quiet, persistent, and enigmatic influence, as the old ginkgo tree draws us closer to the essence of being human.”
Savina Petkova commented in her Venice review, “Hungarian filmmaker Ildikó Enyedi is renowned for her 2017 Golden Bear-winning movie *On Body and Soul*, where an unlikely couple meets in dreams and falls in love as deer. This beautifully tender Berlinale-winning film acts as a precursor to Enyedi’s latest work, despite the release of *The Story of My Wife* (2021) in between, a period drama featuring an obsessive romance starring Léa Seydoux. It’s essential not to underestimate the latter, as this English-language debut enabled Enyedi to broaden her unique narratives beyond language and establish herself as a sought-after European auteur. While *Silent Friend* features the formidable Tony Leung (alongside a minor role from Seydoux), the true star of the film is the ginkgo tree. If *On Body and Soul* focused on fauna, *Silent Friend* centers on flora.”
Check out the exclusive poster below, along with the trailer:
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Tony Leung Discovers Terrestrial Bond in Exclusive Poster for Ildikó Enyedi’s Silent Friend
Ildikó Enyedi, the director of the Oscar-nominated film On Body and Soul, has united Tony Leung and Léa Seydoux for Silent Friend, which narrates three interconnected stories revolving around a tree over a span of more than a century. After its premieres at Venice and TIFF, 1-2 Special is set to release the film in the U.S. starting May 8.