02/05/2024 - Penned by Michael Radford, the feature stars Lucas Lynggaard Tønnesen, Clara Rugaard and Til Schweiger, and is about a young man forced to flee Vienna as Nazi hysteria takes hold

Clara Rugaard and Lucas Lynggaard Tønnesen in Desperate Journey (© Emblem Pictures)

Emmy Award winner Annabel Jankel (Tell It to the Bees [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Annabel Jankel
film profile]) is working on a new feature titled Desperate Journey. The picture is a thriller set in the burlesque world of 1940s Paris, penned by two-time Oscar nominee and Il Postino director Michael Radford. The announcement was first reported by Variety.

Based on the true story of Freddie Knoller, the plot follows a young man forced to flee Vienna as Nazi hysteria takes hold. Knoller’s captivating story has been widely recognised around the world, and he was honoured by the late Queen Elizabeth II.

(The article continues below - Commercial information)

The cast is toplined by Lucas Lynggaard Tønnesen (who portrays Knoller, and was previously seen in the series 1899 [+see also:
trailer
series profile] and Borgen), Clara Rugaard (Verona, I Am Mother) and Til Schweiger (The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, Inglourious Basterds [+see also:
trailer
film profile]). Other roles are played by Sienna Guillory, Steven Berkoff, Fernando Guallar, Hugo Speer, George Sear, Barney Harris, Niamh Cusack, Ed Stoppard, Nathaniel Parker and Louis Ashbourne Serkis.

Speaking about the project, Jankel described it as “a tremendous journey of personal growth”, which gave her the opportunity to work “with the extraordinarily talented and creative cast and crew in Budapest. […] Lucas Lynggaard Tønnesen excited us daily with his performance as he grew into and fully embodied the unique character that was Freddie Knoller,” she added.

Meanwhile, producer Warren Derosa said: “Freddie faced extreme situations and emerged with an understanding of life that could benefit us all. He was an exceptional man, and I am deeply grateful to the large crew and cast who worked tirelessly to portray this remarkable story.”

Derosa is staging the project with Zsofi Kendel for UK outfit Emblem Pictures. The film is now in post-production, and the release date is yet to be disclosed.