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Ildikó Enyedi’s ‘Silent Friend’ Bows in Venice to 5‑Minute‑Plus Ovation

Critics praise Tony Leung’s performance, note meticulous period styling, question the languid 2‑hour‑25‑minute pace.

Overview

  • Premiering as the final competition title in Venice, the film received 5 minutes 22 seconds of applause.
  • The triptych links 1908, 1972 and 2020 around a centuries‑old ginkgo in the University of Marburg’s botanical garden.
  • Tony Leung stars as a visiting neuroscientist in the 2020 segment, his first role in a European production, drawing early acclaim.
  • Ildikó Enyedi assigns distinct textures to each era—35mm monochrome, saturated 16mm and crisp digital—shot by Gergely Pálos.
  • A GermanyFranceHungary–China co‑production with international sales by Films Boutique, the film is about 2 hours 25 minutes and is slated to play TIFF next.