Vicky Krieps, Christian Friedel
Renowned for their standout performances in films like Corsage and The Zone of Interest, celebrated European actors Vicky Krieps and Christian Friedel have joined forces for an ambitious new drama titled The Idiots. This marks an exciting collaboration with acclaimed Polish directors Malgorzata Szumowska and Michal Englert, best known for their evocative works Woman of… and Never Gonna Snow Again.
Joining the leading duo are Aimee Lou Wood, of White Lotus fame, and the versatile Johnny Flynn, along with Dune: Prophecy actress Barbara Marten and Rainer Bock, recognized for his roles in Wonder Woman and The White Ribbon.
The screenplay, co-written by Szumowska and Englert alongside Kasper Bajon and Bríd Arnstein, is inspired by Andrew D. Kaufman’s 2021 novel The Gambler Wife: A True Story of Love, Risk, and the Woman Who Saved Dostoyevsky. The film explores the emotional and artistic partnership between Russian literary titan Fyodor Dostoyevsky and his wife Anna, during a transformative chapter of their lives that culminated in the writing of his iconic novel The Idiot.
Set during the couple’s honeymoon in Western Europe, the story follows Anna (Wood) and Fyodor, affectionately called Fiedya (Flynn), as they navigate the challenges posed by Dostoyevsky’s dangerous gambling addiction. It is only through Anna’s unwavering support that they push forward to realize their shared dream: to complete The Idiot, a work that was initially overlooked but would later become one of the most revered novels in literary history.
The Idiots is being produced by Ilya Stewart and Vladimir Zemtsov under Hype Studios and Gold Rush Pictures. Production is scheduled to begin next month, with international sales handled by The Match Factory. For fans of literary cinema and complex emotional storytelling, this project promises to be a compelling journey into the heart of a troubled genius and the woman who believed in him.
