Malgorzata Szumowska and Michal Englert’s ‘The Idiots,’ Starring Aimee Lou Wood and Johnny Flynn, Boarded by the Match Factory (EXCLUSIVE)

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The Match Factory is now representing “The Idiots,” the latest project from Polish directors Małgorzata Szumowska and Michał Englert, as its sales agent.

I’m thrilled to be discussing a film that boasts Aimee Lou Wood, a BAFTA-winning actress from “White Lotus” and “Sex Education,” as one of its stars. She’s joined by Johnny Flynn, who was nominated for the Critics Choice Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in “Genius.” His impressive resume includes roles in “Ripley,” “One Life,” and “Beast.

The film’s principal photography is set to start next month.

The narrative derives from Andrew D. Kaufman’s 2021 book titled “The Gambler Wife: A True Story of Love, Risk, and the Woman Who Saved Dostoyevsky.” This work explores the lives of Fyodor Dostoyevsky and his spouse Anna, a timeframe that ignited his creativity to pen “The Idiot.” Initially, this novel was a commercial failure; however, it’s now widely regarded as one of literature’s greatest masterpieces.

The movie chronicles the journey of Fyedya and Anna, who embark on their honeymoon in Europe but unexpectedly remain at a wellness retreat in Switzerland for four years before eventually returning home to Russia.

Fyedya can’t seem to break free from his frequent visits to the roulette table, continually depleting his funds. His wife tolerates this situation as he persistently insists it’s all in pursuit of inspiration, claiming that soon he will pen his anticipated masterpiece, “The Idiot.

Agnieszka Szumowska collaborated on writing the film with Kasper Bajon, while Englert is responsible for the cinematography. Notably, Szumowska has garnered two Silver Bear awards at the Berlinale for her films “Mug” (2018) and “Body” (2015). Additionally, she received the Locarno Special Jury Prize for “33 Scenes From Life” (2018), was nominated twice for the European Discovery Award for “Szczesliwy czlowiek” (2001) and “Stranger” (2005), and was recognized as a contender for best European director for “Body” (2015) at the European Film Awards.

Collaborating with Englert in the director’s chair has shown to be fruitful in the past; their joint efforts on the films “Woman of…” (2023) and “Never Gonna Snow Again” (2020) were both showcased in the Venice competition. Englert is a distinguished figure, having won Sundance’s cinematography award for “Lasting” (2023), earning five nominations for best cinematography at the Polish Film Awards, and receiving six Camerimage Award nominations.

This movie is created by Hype Studios and Gold Rush Pictures, two production companies based in Paris and Los Angeles, respectively. Notable works from Hype Studios include “Persian Lessons” (2020) and the Palme d’Or nominee “Limonov: The Ballad of Eddie” (2024). Similarly, Gold Rush Pictures has produced films such as “Club Zero” (2023), a Palme d’Or nominee at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival, and their latest release, “The Light” (2025), which kicked off this year’s Berlin Film Festival. The producers for this project are Ilya Stewart and Vladimir Zemtsov.

In the UK, Wood is managed by Independent Talent, while in the US, both Wood and Flynn are represented by CAA. On the other hand, Szumowska is exclusively handled by CAA in both countries.

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2025-05-09 14:36