The plot, set in the botanical garden of the medieval university town of Marburg, tells three stories connected to an old tree, which was brought from South America to Europe. The film sheds light on the volatile nature of reality, depicting a radical shift in the human perception of plants, animals and people. Ildikó Enyedi penned the script.

Tony Leung Chiu-wai plays the main character, a renowned neuroscientist travelling from his hometown of Hong Kong to the Marburg Faculty.

Alongside Léa Seydoux, the cast includes Luna Wedler, Enzo Brumm and Sylvester Groth.

Silent Friend is produced by Germany’s Pandora Film GmbH in coproduction with Nicolas Elghozi through Galatée, Mónika Mécs through Inforg-M&M Film and Meng Xie through Rediance. ZDF/ARTE is also coproducing.

The film is supported by Film- und Medienstiftung NRW, Hessen Film & Medien, FFA, BKM, DFFF, Moin Film, the National Film Institute – Hungary (with 1,282,464 EUR), Mini Traité, Sofica and Eurimages (with 500,000 EUR).

This is not the first time Ildikó Enyedi and Léa Seydoux work together, as the French actress starred in her latest film, The Story of My Wife, which was a coproduction between Hungary, Germany, Italy and France, produced by Inforg-M&M Film in coproduction with Komplizen Film, Pyramide Productions and Moliwood Films.

Production Information:

Producer:
Pandora Film GmbH (Germany)

Coproducers:
Galatée (France)
Inforg-M&M Film (Hungary)
Rediance (China)
ZDF/ARTE (Germany)

Credits:
Director: Ildikó Enyedi
Scriptwriter: Ildikó Enyedi
Cast: Tony Leung Chiu-wai, Léa Seydoux, Luna Wedler, Enzo Brumm, Sylvester Groth