Colin Farrell and Tilda Swinton Film New Thriller Amidst Macau’s Opulence
Filming is underway in Macau for “Ballad of a Small Player,” a new thriller starring Colin Farrell and Tilda Swinton, set against the backdrop of the city’s extravagant casino culture.
The film, directed by Edward Berger (known for “All Quiet on the Western Front” and “Conclave”), is based on Lawrence Osborne’s 2014 novel of the same name. Farrell plays Brendan Reilly, an Irish thief operating under the alias Lord Doyle, who seeks refuge in Macau after stealing a fortune and becoming entangled in high-stakes baccarat. Swinton portrays a dual-identity investigator tasked with tracking Reilly down and recovering the stolen funds. Macau’s unique position as a former Portuguese colony and current special administrative region of China adds a layer of complexity to the narrative.
Production has taken over locations within the Wynn Palace hotel, where a large-scale floral installation of a hatching phoenix draws attention, and the Rio hotel and casino, which has been dressed to amplify its “shabby-chic grandeur.” Farrell described the hotel as a “headfuck,” adding, “Kind of like living inside that giant Fabergé egg.” Swinton echoed the sentiment, noting the visual overload and the “ridiculousness and over-the-topness of Macau.” The film’s exploration of themes like guilt, addiction, and the search for meaning resonates with broader anxieties about modern life, and could draw comparisons to other gambling-themed films like Rounders.
Berger emphasized the film’s exploration of deeper themes, stating, “Reilly is the epitome of [a world] falling apart…this pursuit of the individual at the expense of the communal experience and common decency.” Farrell added that his character is “looking in all the wrong places for meaning,” and that the chaos he experiences is “already inside him.” “Ballad of a Small Player” is scheduled for release in cinemas on October 15th and will be available on Netflix beginning October 29th.
Officials have indicated that further updates on the film’s production will be released as they become available.
