Famous Hungarian filmmaker István Szabó
Embers, directed by 88-year-old Oscar-winning filmmaker István Szabó, is currently in production in Budapest, starring Ralph Fiennes and Viggo Mortensen.
The screenplay, based on Sándor Márai’s world-famous novel Embers (Hungarian: A gyertyák csonkig égnek, meaning Candles Burn Until the End), was written by Oscar-winning screenwriter Christopher Hampton. The cast also includes Charlotte Rampling, Katherine Langford, Louis Hofmann, Gijs Blom, and Evelyne Brochu. Mychael Danna is composing the music, and Dániel Garas is the cinematographer.
Embers is a 1942 psychological novel about an elderly general, Henrik, who reunites with his estranged friend, Konrad, after 41 years.
Set in a remote Carpathian castle, the story is a tense, candlelit interrogation of betrayal, memory, passion, and friendship that shattered their lives decades earlier.
In an interview, actor Ralph Fiennes said about the project:
I have long hoped to work with István Szabó again on another film.”
“Robert Lantos (producer – editor’s note) brought us together with Christopher Hampton’s wonderful adaptation. One of the greatest joys for me in this project is working with Viggo Mortensen, who is a great actor and whom I have admired for many years. It was an extraordinary experience to be on set with him, István, and the excellent Hungarian crew.”
Viggo Mortensen was recently spotted in Budapest, when he made an unexpected visit to the Hungarian National Museum in March, where he visited the Attila exhibition. At the time, the reason for the actor’s visit was unknown.
Via Facebook; Featured photo: Hungary Today
