The FFF Bayern is supporting the production of the international co-production The Weight with 2 million euros. The film is a German-American co-production that will bring historical material to the big screen. The leading roles are played by Ethan Hawke and Russell Crowe.
The Weight is set in Oregon in 1933: After the death of his wife and his imprisonment in a labor camp, Samuel Murphy fights to regain custody of his daughter Penny. Under the control of the unscrupulous warden Clancy, Murphy becomes involved in a risky gold smuggling operation. But in addition to the dangers of the wilderness, betrayal within his own ranks also threatens the venture.
The screenplay for The Weight was written by Shelby Gaines, Matthew Chapman and Matthew Booi, based on a story by Matthew Booi and Leo Sherman. The film will be directed by Padraic McKinley and star Ethan Hawke and Russell Crowe. Most of the filming will take place in Bavaria, where the production team, with the help of the Film Commission of the FFF Bayern, has found ideal locations that will serve as covers of Oregon’s landscape. FFF Bayern is supporting the production with 2 million euros.
The production companies are augenschein Filmproduktion and the Munich-based production company Construction Filmproduktion GmbH. From the USA, Fields Entertainment and Under The Influence Productions are involved. The German distributor is Capelight, world sales are handled by WME International.
As the project is still at an early stage, there is no press agency yet. Journalistic inquiries will be answered by the production company.