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Silent Friend was made as a German-French-Hungarian co-production with the support of Hungary’s National Film Institute.
The sensitive, philosophical film which won six awards at last year’s Venice Film Festival tells three stories of tentative encounters between people and plants.
The latest work by the Golden Bear-winning and Oscar-nominated director of On Body and Soul is set in the botanical garden in Marburg, Germany.
“The greatest joy was that in this film we were able to talk about so many things that have occupied me for a very long time, really since my teenage years, and until now had only seeped into my films in a very indirect way. Now the film’s central theme is essentially nature, communication and human connection,” said Ildikó Enyediahead of a press conference in Budapest.
Best known for his work with Wong Kar-wai, Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, plays a character called Tony, and said there was next to no preparation for the role.
“I received a lot of material from Ildikó, books on neuroscience and plants. I asked her what I needed for my preparation; she replied: nothing, just be there. So I said, okay, then let’s figure it out on set,” said the Hong Kong actor.
At the film’s heart is a venerable old tree transplanted from afar, which has been watching plant, animal and human life around it for almost two centuries.
Silent Friend won Best Cinematography at the 61st Chicago International Film Festival, and was also recognised in Lisbon (LEFFEST) and Valladolid, Spain.