17/09/2013 - Danish Oscar-winning director Bille August will direct a new adaptation of Austrian author Stefan Zweig’s 1939 novel, Beware of Pity

After his first Danish feature in 25 years, Marie Krøyer [+see also:
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film profile], which in 2012 welcomed 296,000 domestic spectators, Danish Oscar-winning director Bille August (photo) has been engaged full-time in German projects, now signing for the third, Beware of Pity, from Austrian author Stefan Zweig’s 1939 novel.

Produced by Germany’s Studio Hamburg Filmproduktion, Bille’s latest premiere, Night Train to Lisbon [+see also:
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making of
film profile] - a romantic thriller from Swiss author Pascal Mercier’s best-selling novel with Jack Huston, Martina Gedeck and Tom Courteney in the leads – was selected for this year’s Berlinale and released in Germany on March 7.

His next project will be Laughter in the Dark, from Russian author Vladimir Nabokov’s 1932 novel, about the affection of a middle-aged art critic for a 16-year-old aspiring actress, and their mutually parasitic relationship.  

Adapted once (1969) by UK director Tony Richardson, with Anna Karina, Nicol Williamson and Peter Bowles in the leads, the new version will be scripted by South African writer Greg Latter, who worked with August on Night Train to Lisbon and on his award-winning Goodbye Bafana [+see also:
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film profile] (2007). It will be produced by Hungarian-German actor-director-turned producer Sander Söth, for his Berlin production house, Inuit Pictures.

Most recently August has signed to direct Beware of Pity, from Austrian author Stefan Zweig’s 1939 novel, which UK director Maurice Elvey brought to the screen in 1946. Latter will write the script about a 17-year-old aristocratic, paralysed daughter, who falls in love with a young lieutenant, who does not return her feelings. Set for a 2014 shoot, the English-language feature will be staged by UK producer Lars Sylvest and German producer Helge Sass for Germany’s Senator Film.