26/05/2016 - The stellar cast includes John Malkovich, Josh Hartnett, Bérénice Marlohe, Charlotte Rampling, John Rhys-Davies and Keir Dullea

A sort of modern fairy tale for adults and an updated version of Citizen Kane: this is how Polish filmmaker Lech Majewski has introduced his new film, The Valley of the Gods, which he has just begun shooting. The all-star cast includes US actors John Malkovich, Josh Hartnett and Keir Dullea, French actress Bérénice Marlohe, and the UK’s Charlotte Rampling and John Rhys-Davies.

The Hittite legend of Ullikummi served as the starting point for the screenplay, which the director wrote himself. According to this legend, two mountains begat a rock that was half-man, half-god. But the film also takes a stab at another narrative thread, telling the story of the richest man on Earth, a recluse who meets his own potential biographer. Majewski has already earned himself a reputation for making works that draw inspiration from paintings, complete with fantasy elements and dreamlike imagery (The Mill and the Cross [+see also:
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film profile]), and the filmmaker describes his new outing as a visually highly developed film, and a challenging feat when it comes to digital technology, boasting a whole array of special effects. The Valley of the Gods is currently being shot at the Audiovisual Technology Center (CETA) in Wroclaw, in two blue-screen and green-screen studios.

The shoot will also take place in Lower Silesia, in the Cistercian monastery complex in Lubiąż and in Książ Castle, before heading to Katowice (the filmmaker’s hometown), and then wrapping in Italy and Utah.

Produced by Angelus Silesius (the filmmaker’s own company) together with US outfit Royal Road Entertainment and The Safran Company, The Valley of the Gods boasts a budget of around €3.8 million, including €800,000 in backing from the Polish Film Institute and €116,000 from the Silesia Film regional fund. It is set to be released in theatres in late 2016. 

(Translated from French)