Tony Leung Chiu-Wai Joins the Cast of ‘Silent Friend’ from Director Ildiko Enyedi

Hungarian filmmaker and screenwriter Ildikó Enyedi is a celebrated filmmaker prominently known for her directorial feature  On Body and Soul, which won the top prize at the 67th Berlin International Film Festival. Now, the visionary auteur is all set to provide her directorial vision for her next project, which will feature renowned actor Tony Leung Chiu-wai. The upcoming project starring Tony Leung is titled Silent Friend. It is set in the botanical garden of Marburg, a medieval university town in Germany, and tells three stories connected to a tree over a period of more than 100 years. 

Everything about Ildikó Enyedi’s upcoming movie ‘Silent Friend’ starring Tony Leung 

Ildikó Enyedi is primarily known for directing arthouse dramas. Her work often explores complex human emotions and relationships through compelling narratives and characters. Enyedi’s previous work, such as the 2021 romantic drama film The Story of My Wife, starring Léa Seydoux and Gijs Naber, competed at Cannes. Her 2017 film On Body and Soul, which gained recognition at the Berlin International Film Festival, also earned an Academy nomination. Considering her previous work and achievement something exciting can be expected from Enyedi’s upcoming film, Silent Friend. 

The upcoming film, which was produced by the German banner Pandora Film, was also penned by Enyedi herself. The film will center around the theme of the volatile nature of so-called reality, showing the radical shifts in human perception of plants, animals, and humans. The translated synopsis of the film reads: 

“The film tells three stories from the perspective of a tree in three different eras: 1908, 1972, and 2020. It’s about perception and communication between humans and nature. Three stories about the inventiveness of each generation, in which discoveries and the will to change, the desire for emancipation, and love create a fascinating connection to other living beings. In addition to short scenes in Paris and Hong Kong, the film will take place exclusively in Marburg. The medieval university town is by no means just a picturesque backdrop but rather a defining feature of the plot – especially the botanical garden, which is almost half a millennium old. Among the many exotic species preserved, there is a majestic tree that is lonelier than all others. Its flowers open at night, when the flowers of all other plants are closed. He has been watching people for a long time.”

The film features Asian actor Tony Leung as the lead actor. He is prominently known for his performance in films like In the Mood for Love and Marvel’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. The actor will now play a renowned neuroscientist who travels from his hometown of Hong Kong to the Marburg Faculty. 

During an interview, Enyedi shared that she wrote this role while keeping Leung in mind. She said, “The whole storyline of his episode is defined by those personal sensibilities I could only guess behind the brilliant actor. I was absolutely humbled that from the first read of the script, he became such a great partner in the thinking not just about his role but about the whole project.”

This admiration is not one-sided, as Leung has also expressed his fandom for Enyedi’s work. He revealed that he has been an “avid fan of Ildiko Enyedi since watching all of her previous work.” The actor described Enyedi as an “incredibly talented individual” who is “intelligent, humble and so nice.”

The film is being co-produced by Hungarian veteran producer Monika Mécs, marking her reunion with Enyedi. Nicolas Elghozi and Meng Xie, along with her French producers, will also produce it. 

Silent Friend will commence filming in April 2024.