Oscar-nominated writer-director Terrence Malick’s (The Tree of Life, The Thin Red Line, Days of Heaven) A Hidden Life has been acquired by Fox Searchlight Pictures for North American and select international territory distribution rights.
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A Hidden Life stars August Diehl (Inglourious Basterds) as Austrian Franz Jägerstätter, a devoted husband and father who refuses to fight for the Nazis in World War II, even as the possibility of execution threatens to tear him apart from his family. Fox Searchlight will market and distribute the film, which is scheduled for release in 2019.
Fresh off its World Premiere in competition at the 72nd Festival de Cannes, the film reunites Malick with Searchlight following the Oscar-nominated Best Picture The Tree of Life, which won the festival’s Palme d’Or in 2011.
“Terrence Malick has crafted a majestic and deeply affecting story of a man who held onto unwavering faith and devotion during the darkness of war,” said Fox Searchlight Pictures Chairmen Nancy Utley and Stephen Gilula. “We are elated to reunite with Terrence Malick after the wonderfully rewarding journey of The Tree of Life. He has brought his exquisite filmmaking style to this powerful portrait of one man’s spirit in a time of crisis. The performances by the cast, anchored by August Diehl and Valerie Pachner, are tremendous.”
Producer Grant Hill added, “Terry and I are so delighted to be back home with our Tree of Life partners, Fox Searchlight. Their commitment and understanding was beyond reproach on Tree and we are looking forward to an equally satisfying relationship on A Hidden Life. This is a very personal project for Terry and it is great to be back with friends to tell this remarkable true story.”
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A Hidden Life also stars Valerie Pachner, Maria Simon, Bruno Ganz, Karin Neuhäuser, Tobias Moretti, Matthias Schoenaerts and Ulrich Matthes. The film is an Elizabeth Bay Production in association with Aceway and Studio Babelsberg and is produced by Grant Hill, p.g.a., Dario Bergesio, Josh Jeter and Elisabeth Bentley, with Marcus Loges and Adam Morgan serving as executive producers.
