Berlin: Geoffrey Rush to Play Artist Alberto Giacometti in ‘Final Portrait’
LONDON — Geoffrey Rush is to star as artist Alberto Giacometti in “Final Portrait.” HanWay will be introducing the project to international buyers at Berlin’s European Film Market. CAA represents U.S. rights.
Written and to be directed by Stanley Tucci (“Big Night,” “The Imposters”), the script is based on “A Giacometti Portrait” by American art critic James Lord. Gail Egan, Potboiler Productions, Ilann Girard, Fred Hogg and Olive Productions are producing.
Pic is set in Paris in 1964 when Giacometti bumps into Lord and begs him to sit for a portrait. Giacometti claims it will take only a couple of days in his studio. Lord is flattered by the request and agrees. As Giacometti strives to capture the essence and truth of his subject, the days go by and turn into weeks with no obvious end in sight — Lord realizes his entire life has been hijacked by this erratic genius.
Tensions in the Giacometti household flare as he clashes with his beautiful wife and troublesome mistress. Veering between frustration and joy, Lord “ultimately sees logic in the humorous, articulate and self-effacing Giacometti’s chaotic mind and together we witness this highly intelligent genius complete one of his last masterpieces,” according to HanWay.
HanWay’s Thorsten Schumacher said: “This is an undeniably charming story about two opposites, the Odd Couple of their time. Stanley Tucci has written a wonderfully nuanced script.”
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