Ralph Fiennes, Viggo Mortensen, Charlotte Rampling, Katherine Langford and other stars in István Szabó’s film “Embers”; filming begins and first images released as Embankment attends Cannes market
According to the CinemaDrame news agency, Ralph Fiennes and Viggo Mortensen—both twice Academy Award nominees—take on the lead roles in the period and low-profile film “Embers”, directed by Oscar-winning filmmaker István Szabó. The project has now entered production in Budapest, Hungary.
Alongside the two prominent actors, several well-known names also appear in the film, including Oscar nominee Charlotte Rampling, Katherine Langford, Louis Hofmann, Gijs Blom, Evelyn Brochu, and Jonah Russell.
The film is an adaptation of the acclaimed novel by Sándor Márai, written by two-time Oscar-winning screenwriter Christopher Hampton. “Embers” reunites Szabó with producer Robert Lantos, who previously collaborated with him on “Sunshine”, as well as with Ralph Fiennes, who also starred in that film. The project also marks another collaboration between Lantos and Viggo Mortensen following “Eastern Promises”.
The story follows two inseparable friends, Henrik (played by Fiennes) and Konrad (played by Mortensen), who are brought back together after decades. Following Konrad’s mysterious disappearance, a single night of revelations uncovers a secret that destroys their friendship, with a woman at the center of the mystery.
Early images released from the film show Fiennes, Mortensen, and Langford. The work is described as a “psychological duel” between the two main characters.
Embankment Films is handling international sales for the project ahead of the Cannes Film Market. Lantos is producing through Serendipity Point Films, while Tibor Kresko is also involved in the project via HGO Films.
Christopher Hampton previously adapted the novel into a stage play in 2006. After its run in London’s West End, he sent the screenplay version to Szabó, accompanied by a brief message reading “with hope.” This film marks Szabó’s first project in six years and only his second since 2012. The initial idea for the project was developed with the involvement of Lantos and Fiennes.
The production team includes names such as Mychael Danna (Academy Award–winning composer), Attila F. Kovács (production designer), Daniel Garas (cinematographer), Bia Mervovitz (costume designer), and David Wansbrough (editor). Casting was carried out by Oscar-nominated Nina Gold.
István Szabó said of the project that ever since Christopher Hampton sent him the script, Robert Lantos and he had been waiting to bring what he considers one of the finest screenplays he has ever worked with to the screen. He added that Sándor Márai’s novel is one of the most beautiful works of 20th-century literature, and Hampton’s adaptation is flawless for cinema.
Ralph Fiennes stated that working again with Szabó has been a valuable experience for him, and that collaborating with Viggo Mortensen and the Hungarian crew was particularly special.
Viggo Mortensen described the collaboration as a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and called working alongside Fiennes and Szabó an inspiring challenge.
Robert Lantos also emphasized that bringing together this team of actors and filmmakers to realize Hampton’s screenplay was the fulfillment of a cinematic dream.
Tim Haslam of Embankment described the film as a tense psychological duel in which a single moment of betrayal and desire determines the course of an entire lifetime.
