'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wAARCAAHAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFgABAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQH/8QAHRAAAgEFAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQIEAAMFESGBBv/EABQBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAL/xAAXEQEAAwAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARES/9oADAMBAAIRAxEAPwDOfk81ZkSpGPlRluR7ltnDKSCrBeHzvtTJn3CKA51rnTSlOi1L/9k='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Edward Berger's Ballad of a Small Player is bringing Colin Farrell to the screens in a new light; and according to the director, one of the reasons why he chose the The Killing of a Sacred Deer actor for the psychological thriller is because he believed in Farrell's ability to express the fragility of the character with his eyes.
Speaking on stage during Contenders London, the director talked about how the idea for the film was born out of the eponymous book and his interest in Macau as the backdrop for a movie. Detailing Ballad of a Small Player's initial idea, Berger said,
“It started about eight years ago. with Mike Goodridge, our producer, who gave me the book. I read it and I thought it was fantastic. It was a great basis for a movie. I loved this place, Macau. I thought it would be interesting to shoot there and to bring images to our screens that we don’t see so often. "
He then added why he chose Colin Farrell for the role as he continued,
"And this character fascinated me, this person in an environment that has so much to offer but who’s so fragile inside. And when you think of fragile, I felt like the best person to express that with his eyes is Colin Farrell.”
More details on Ballad of a Small Player
Ballad of a Small Player pulls you into a world of high-stakes gambling, secrets, and moral ambiguity. Directed by Berger and penned by Rowan Joffé, the film adapts Lawrence Osborne’s 2014 novel of the same name, bringing its tense, stylish narrative to the screen. The movie features an impressive ensemble, including Colin Farrell as Lord Doyle, Fala Chen as Dao Ming, Tilda Swinton as the mysterious Cynthia Blithe, alongside Deanie Ip and Alex Jennings.
According to Netflix, the film's synopsis reads,
Trending
"Lord Doyle is laying low in Macau – spending his days and nights on the casino floors, drinking heavily and gambling what little money he has left. Struggling to keep up with his fast-rising debts, he is offered a lifeline by the mysterious Dao Ming, a casino employee with secrets of her own. However, in hot pursuit is Cynthia Blithe – a private investigator ready to confront Doyle with what he is running from. As Doyle tries to climb to salvation, the confines of reality start to close in."
Ballad of a Small Player premiered at the 52nd Telluride Film Festival on August 29, 2025, before making waves at the Toronto International Film Festival in the Special Presentations section on September 9. US audiences will get a chance to see it in select cinemas on October 15, followed by the UK release on October 17, and Netflix streaming on October 29.
Love movies? Try our Box Office Game and Movie Grid Game to test your film knowledge and have some fun!
Reply
