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Press release:
Jeremy Irons in Portugal
Some photos via Rui Rebelo on flickr
Video of Jeremy at the press conference in Lisbon, Portugal from RTP.pt
More video of Jeremy at the press conference from Lux.pt
Video from the 15 April 2012 Press Conference from tvi24
Cinebox video interview with Jeremy Irons from http://www.tvi.iol.pt
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Night train to Lisbon // Making of // Bille August, Jeremy Irons from Cineuropa on Vimeo.
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from Cinema.sapo.pt
The first major international film production with the name of the Portuguese capital in the title will debut early next year and will be distributed worldwide, was announced today by producer Ana Costa.
The filming of “Night Train to Lisbon ‘, directed by Danish Bille August , runs from Monday and lasted for the next eight weeks in the local Portuguese capital, in Caxias (Oeiras) and Palmela.
The total investment will be eight million, four million of which will be spent in Lisbon, a co-production between Portugal, Germany and Switzerland, in the capital took place over four days, the only footage of the work outside of Portugal.
The film, which is an adaptation of a novel by Swiss writer Pascal Mercier, will involve a team of 75 people, mostly Portuguese, to tell the story of a Latin teacher in Bern that in the years 1960, reaches Lisbon to find out more about Amadeu de Prado, medical writer and aristocratic Portuguese opposition to the dictatorial regime that was the rage in the country.
The main role is in charge of British actor Jeremy Irons , who returns to work in Portugal, as noted in today’s meeting with journalists, 19 years after having been in the country to run “The House of Spirits’ , also directed by August and based on the novel’s namesake Chilean author Isabel Allende.
Irons said that it is a “history of discovery, mystery and adventure.”
Actors Nicholas Breyner and Beatriz Batarda are some of the Portuguese who are also part of the cast, which also includes the representation of Melanie Laurent (France), Jack Huston and Tom Courtenay (UK), August Diehl (Germany) and Bruno Ganz ( Switzerland), among others.
Ana Costa, CineMate the producer, said: “Night Train to Lisbon” will be the movie that will have the largest financial support from the European fund Eurimages, whose value is not specified.
He also stressed the investment in the current context of crisis, the film will bring to Lisbon, where inject four million euros during the period of filming.
The city of Lisbon is among the sponsors of the work, such as the Institute of Cinema and Audiovisual (ICA). Since the Fund for Cinema and Audiovisual (FICA) gave no financial contribution, despite having signed a contract to that effect, fails to Ana Costa attributed to the fact that this institution be “frozen” since 2008.
This investment would make even more sense for the movie has already secured the display abroad, in charge of the German distributor K5. In Portugal this role will be assumed by ZON Audiovisuals.
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from c7nema
The British actor arrived today (18) to the Portuguese capital for the start of filming of his new album, “Night Train to Lisbon” (“Night Train to Lisbon ‘). Accompanied by director Bille August and the film makers, the press Irons presented the project, which will be filmed almost entirely in Lisbon in the next seven weeks. It is the second time the two worked together in Portugal: in 1993 they filmed in Alentejo “The House of the Spirits.” The shooting started last week with four days of filming in Bern, Switzerland.
Based on the novel by Pascal Mercier Swiss, “Night Train to Lisbon” chronicles the life of a quiet Latin teacher, Raimund Gregorius, who lives in Bern. Encased in a routine life, Gregorius takes the unexpected decision to enter a train to Lisbon without an apparent reason – after going to the station to deliver the jacket lost a young man who saved him from suicide.
He then found in his coat pockets a book by a Portuguese writer, Amadeo de Prado. Intrigued by the book and its author, decides to conduct a survey in Lisbon on the life of Amadeo de Prado, a physician active in the resistance anti-Salazar. At the same time, it will rebuild your own life from another perspective.
According to Irons, what is interesting in the character is just the fact that he has total control over your life and in an instant, after an unexpected act, adopt a measure that completely strip the usual way – until I realized that after this process became a different man.
The actor also had high praise for Portugal. Recalling his stay in another country, said the magic that is a different atmosphere here. “What I remember is I loved Portugal,” he said. Irons revealed that has not had much time to learn about the period of the dictatorship of Salazar, at which time it becomes part of history. He quipped that just came out of a project based on Henry IV, Shakespeare, and he had to learn a lot about him.
Bille August has already revealed that he was attracted by the prospect of extraordinary events when they occur in the lives of ordinary people – questioning how much change is or is not within reach of each one. The director did not fail to emphasize the fact that the story was passed in Lisbon was an important factor in its decision to immediately accept the proposal of the German producer Studio Hamburg, without even reading the first version of the argument. August also said he was thrilled to return – and that the major effort will be trying to capture on film the magic and mystery of the capital Lisbon.
As in “The House of the Spirits”, August surrounds himself with a large international cast. In addition to Irons, Melanie Laurent, Lena Olin, Charlotte Rampling, Bruno Ganz, Jack Huston, Martina Gedek, August Diehl and Christopher Lee completes the main cast. On the Portuguese side, especially Nicholas and Beatrice Breyner Batarda.
The film and the difficulties of Portuguese cinema
“Night Train to Lisbon ‘will cost £ 7.7 million. In addition to producing German, Swiss and C-Films CineMate by the Portuguese side, co-produce the film. It will be launched in 2013, distributed by Zon Lusomundo in Portugal and abroad by German K5.
The co-producer of the Portuguese side, Ana Costa, stressed the importance of a project size international prestige for the dissemination of Lisbon in the world. “It’s the first time a work of this size takes its name from Lisbon in the title,” he said. About 90% of the film will be shot in Lisbon, with a few more scenes in Caxias and Palmela – beyond those already filmed in Bern. Costa estimates that around £ 3.5 million will be spent in the capital with the filming of the movie. This information reinforces the idea defended by a representative of Studio Hamburg, Russ Günther, that any funding of cinema in Portugal, particularly the state should see it, not as entertainment but as an economic activity generating resources for the country – and co-productions are good solutions for the continuation and funding of Portuguese cinema in times of crisis.
The other studio representative, Kerstin Ramcke, gave information about the project, which already takes six years. First came the difficulties of transposition of the book to film, since it is largely focused on philosophy. Then were the obstacles inherent in a large production, with the search for co-producers and sponsors. The filmmaker Bille August has given its OK for two years and Irons confirmed their participation after one year.
Mercier’s book, already translated into Portuguese, was a major bestseller in German in recent years.
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JEREMY IRONS PRAISES PORTUGUESE CUISINE, LANDSCAPES AND MUSIC
(TRAVPR.COM) USA – April 13th, 2012 – Actor Jeremy Irons, who is in Lisbon filming the movie “Night Train to Lisbon,” yesterday praised the quality of Portuguese cuisine, the “magic” of the Fado music and the beauty of the nation’s landscapes.
During a dinner aboard the Portuguese Navy’s historic tall ship Creoula, in the presence of Secretary of State for Tourism, Cecilia Meireles, Irons referred to Lisbon as a “unique place” in Europe, combining hills, small cobbled streets, preserved heritage and a unique luminosity.
During filming in Portugal, the cast has had the opportunity to enjoy a night of Fado music which left Jeremy Irons surprised with this truly Portuguese musical genre, and with the voices of a new generation of artist: “It was three quarters of an hour absolutely magical and unbelievable”.
Moreover, Irons pointed out his passion for Portuguese cuisine: “The fish you eat here (in Portugal) is just fantastic! I would live here just because of the fish”. He was surprised to hear that many internationally renowned restaurants, including ones in New York, only serve fish caught in Portugal.
Accompanied by the other stars from the movie (Bruno Ganz and Charlotte Rampling) Irons also referred to the beauty of the beaches on the Alentejo coast, one of the locations where the movie takes place. In addition, he is interested in the unique relationship between Portugal and the sea with more than 400 miles of coastline and where some of the most beautiful beaches in Europe are found.
Pascal Mercier’s novel “Night Train to Lisbon” is the basis of the film by Danish director Bille August, being shot take in Lisbon until May 2012.
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- Photo by Ricardo Ribeiro
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- Photo by Ricardo Ribeiro
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- Photo by Jorge Simao
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- Photo by Jorge Simao
‘Night Train to Lisbon’ – Set Photos and News
Filming has begun, in Bern, Switzerland, on Jeremy’s latest film Night Train to Lisbon. Jeremy plays Raimund Gregorius, the main character from the novel by Pascal Mercier.
Scroll down for the gallery photos and more articles about the filming:
Vodpod videos no longer available. Vodpod videos no longer available.from www.20min.ch
[Translated from German]
On the Kirchenfeldbrücke yesterday, the most important scenes were shot to international film production, “Night Train to Lisbon”: In this the Bernese school teacher Raimund Gregorius holds on the bridge, a young Portuguese woman on it, to plunge into the river Aare. Plays Oscar winner Jeremy Irons, the hero of the novel “Night Train to Lisbon” of Berners Peter Bieri: In the lead role. “A film is something of the best that there is an Embassy”, is pleased Mayor Alexander Tschäppät.
Only the weather did not play
The shooting was half-Berne in operation: police and firefighters blocked for hours from the church-span bridge, Bernmobil led to four lines and the STAPI held on Saturday for the star-studded crew reception: “is absolutely easy Irons. He chatted with everyone and left the hall as one of the last, “says Tschäppät.
Only the weather was a thorn in the film-makers: instead of pouring rain there was bright sunshine. “This must expect every film crew,” said a spokesman on the set. The rain came on again from the rubber hose. Tomorrow go on the shooting in the Old Town.
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from Der Bunde
Hollywood on Sunday occupied the Bernese Kirchenfeldbrücke for the film adaptation of the bestselling ‘Night Train to Lisbon “. Also included: movie star Jeremy Irons.
On Sunday, the church-span bridge for pedestrians and public transport is blocked. The reason Hollywood makes in the city for the film adaptation of the bestselling ‘Night Train to Lisbon “wide of the Bernese writer Pascal Mercier.
By turning it on is Oscar-winner Jeremy Irons, who lived as a Latin teacher Raimund Gregorius that fateful encounter with an alleged suicide at the church-span bridge that will put his life on its head. Irons plays the leading role, originally was scheduled for Geoffrey Rush.
The Danish director Bille August (“Pelle the Conqueror”) takes over the film. The budget of the production is 7.5 million €.
The church-span bridge is closed until Sunday night by 20 clock. The trams and buses will be rerouted.
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from Der Bunde
The successful novel, “Night Train to Lisbon” of lecturing in Germany Berne writer Peter Bieri aka Pascal Mercier is filmed partly in Bern. “The school and church field Kirchenfeldbrücke will also play an important role in the film,” executive producer Peter Reichenbach says of the Zurich company C film. Filming will take place in late February / early March 2012. The week after next will examine the Danish director Bille August (“Pelle the Conqueror”) and his team have several locations in the federal city, which for the rotation are eligible, says Reichenbach. The end of June this year, the producer left open whether the opening sequences of the 7.5-million-euro project will actually filmed in the federal capital.
For the lead role was originally Geoffrey Rush (“The King’s Speech”) are provided. Now Oscar-winner Jeremy Irons (62) experience as a Latin teacher Raimond Gregory that fateful encounter with an alleged suicide at the church-span bridge that will put his life on its head.
Beside the church-span bridge and the same high school are also the main station Bern as well as a bookshop and a private apartment in the Old Town as provided locations. The film is also playing in the Stars, Bruno Ganz and Vanessa Redgrave will come but not in the federal city in action. “Because of their roles, they occur only in Portugal before the camera,” says Reichenbach.
Old Town Apartment Wanted
The Bernese, “location scout” for the production Renatus Mauderli. He clarifies these days, which the bookstore and housing which are eligible as locations. The Bookshop on the Iberian Hirschengraben, in a work that writer Gregory joins, whose life he seeks to trace in Lisbon, there is no longer a business with its own window. Mauderli therefore had to start looking and has a total of seven bookstores found appropriate, would make their owners for their location shooting available. Slightly more difficult, the search for an old apartment that could easily pass as the Bern home of Gregory. “The residents have to be prepared for some inconvenience.” So it would be about ready to move during the filming of the hotel, says Mauderli.
The best would be a flat “with character” that could fit into a not so young teacher of ancient languages. The ideal location would be the Lower Old Town or the Matte district. Anyone embarking on this adventure, gets reimbursed cost and trouble. “In addition, it is then the owner or tenant of an apartment, Jeremy Irons has played in one,” says Mauderli. (The Federation)
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from Publico
From 19 March the Danish filmmaker who filmed around here part of “The House of the Spirits” in the ’90s, returns to film “Night Train to Lisbon,” the adaptation of the bestselling novel by Pascal Mercier, Jeremy Irons and Charlotte Rampling.
Bille August, director of “The House of the Spirits”, film adaptation of the novel by Isabel Allende, will return to Portugal to shoot. And it brings the actors Jeremy Irons, Charlotte Rampling, Christopher Lee and Bruno Ganz.
The Danish filmmaker begins tomorrow in Bern, Switzerland, shooting the film “Night Train to Lisbon”. From 19 March the team will be filming in Lisbon, told Lusa Portuguese co-producer, Paul Trancoso. Nicholas Breyner, Adriano Luz, Beatriz Batarda, Philip Vargas and director Joaquim Leitão are some of the Portuguese players entering the fime.
“Night Train to Lisbon” is a co-production between Portugal, Germany and Switzerland and has a budget of eight million. The book by Pascal Mercier, pseudonym of Peter Bieri, a philosophy professor at the University of Berlin, tells the story of a Swiss professor who, after meeting a Portuguese woman, moves to Lisbon to follow the path of Amadeu de Prado, a physician and poet who fought against the dictatorship of the Estado Novo.
When the writer was in Portugal to launch the novel for years lamented the Daily News: “I want to separate very well the book of the film. I have little doubt that they can make a movie of this book, but the rights were sold … They changed the characters, plot, atmosphere, everything … “The Epsilon in March 2008, the plot was well described by José Maria Oliveira:” After a mysterious encounter with a Portuguese woman in a night of rain, Raimund Gregorius, 57, professor of Latin, Greek and Hebrew in Bern, discovers a book by a Portuguese poet and doctor, Amadeu de Prado, who had been persecuted by the dictatorship. This work, ‘A goldsmith of words’ transforms the life of the quiet professor who catch the night train to Lisbon in search of the author. Amadeu died in 1973, but does not detract from Gregorius and starts a tour of the city, looking for traces of life of a man who rallied the anti-fascist resistance, whose writings inspired person, still haunt many people. “And he added:” Through the reports of Amadeu family and former political prisoners, there are many elements of national historiography: Salazar, the PIDE, the Tarrafal, the Portuguese Youth. ”
At that time, Paul Trancoso read the novel and realized that the plot “could lead Lisbon to the world,” he told Lusa. Portuguese then contacted the publisher who published the book, Don Quixote, “to see if the film rights would be free” and then made known to the Swiss producer, involved in making the movie, Portuguese interest in participating in a possible co-production.
The shooting will end in Lisbon May 4 and will include filming in various locations around the city. On Sunday, March 18, there will be a press conference in Lisbon, which will be attended Jeremy Irons, Nicholas Breyner, director Bille August and producers. Trancoso Paul believes the film will be “fantastically good for the image of Lisbon outside the country.”
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from DerBunde
“A pleasant city to smoke a cigarette”
By Matthew Ryffel .
Hollywood is a guest in Bern – thanks to the film adaptation of Pascal Mercier’s bestseller, “Night Train to Lisbon”. Oscar winner Jeremy Irons praised the city unduly.
On Sunday, a touch of Hollywood was to feel in Bern.
Peter Bieri aka Pascal Mercier and Jeremy Irons – the Bernese author and Oscar-winner. It’s an odd couple, which is this afternoon at the “Salon Royal” in the Bernese Nobel presents Bellevue hotels to the press and gives information about the film adaptation of Mercier’s buyer, “Night Train to Lisbon”.
The “Night Train to Lisbon ‘has its origin in the church-span bridge. The Latin teacher Raimond Gregory, the film embodies Irons met there a nice Portuguese and the “Night Train” is on the move.
“Beautiful City”
The federal capital was during the last few days now and the first stop of the film crew, the novel takes on Canvas Bieri. On Sunday, the cameras caught by Danish director Bille August, the fateful meeting at a church-span bridge, was also shot in the church school box itself, in an old house, in the Book of Books and wild at the central station.
While Jeremy Irons in the flashlights of the cameras tend to look bored, Peter Bieri seems not quite in his element. The journalists’ questions, he answered cautiously, while Irons soon falls into raptures.
Jeremy Irons is one of Bern “beautiful city”. Pleasing to not only make films, but also simply to smoke outside in the sun for a cigarette, or go shopping. In his words: “A pleasant city to just sit outside and smoke a cigarette.”
“The pictures of my imagination”
In the hymn of praise to the federal city vote even after the series director and producer. They praise the kind people and the scenery. Bern had presented Peter Reichenbach says of the production company C film. “We hope that we now Lisbon welcomes you with open arms.”
Peter Bieri says that for him it was “essential” to film in Bern. He had grown up here, in the church field went to school. “The pictures of my imagination that have condensed into the novel come from here.”
The movie poster from the movie people sit on the panel and author of stage shows, a man who goes from a dark concourse beyond the light. The tagline under the title “Night Train to Lisbon” is: “Only when you are lost can you truly find yourself.”
Whether this will set his novel justice, Bieri is asked by a skeptical journalist. “I just read this sentence, for the first time,” replied Bieri, after he turned around and has studied the poster. It is certainly not a quotation from the book. And adds: “To tell them the truth – I can not find much in this sentence make sense.” The sentence sounded well, but as a philosopher he would say: “conceptually quite incoherent.”
Producer and director to respond with laughter. Reichenbach takes the floor: It stands without question that we are now very common to find a set Bieri, who bring the essence of the book in a nutshell. “One that sounds good,” he adds with a grin. But one must see clearly: The film is not in the box and nobody knows exactly how he would ultimately be. “Not until you drink it, you actually smell it,” adds Irons.
“The film is the film, the book is the book»
Did he influence suppose that the movie will do justice to his book, Bieri asked. “The film is the film, the book is the book” answers Bieri. He was so involved in the screenplay. If there are some differences, however, was not so bad: “I am confident that this shows a very good movie.”
(DerBund.ch / Newsnet)
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From 20min.ch
[Google Translated from German]
The Briton was only three days in Bern – but he would have endured longer. “The city is beautiful. The bridges, the river, the architecture. I’m sitting in the sun, I read the paper and smoking, “says the charismatic actor. “And can buy super man in Bern as well.” 
Jeremy Irons talks to 20 minutes.
“I love raclette and what you do with your flesh.”
[Raclette is both a type of cheese and a Swiss dish based on heating the cheese and scraping off (racler) the melted part.]
In the film adaptation of the eponymous novel by Swiss author Peter Bieri of the 63-year-old slips into the role of a Bernese teacher who one day breaks out of his everyday life. “I think he is typically Swiss. His life is in a controlled manner, as the tracks of a train, so Irons »to 20 minutes. Quite different from him. “I am a Roma, an eternal traveler,” he says. Put themselves in the role of a Swiss father, he remembered – the stars, thank – but not heavy. “I was born under the zodiac sign Virgo, so I’m very organized. And among you there must be many pretty young women, almost everything works here, “jokes Irons.
Although the film team now moves on to Portugal – private Irons come back soon safe in Switzerland. He often visited friends on Lake Geneva or to St. Moritz for skiing. And he likes the Swiss cuisine: “I love raclette and what you do with your flesh.”
jeremyirons.net 
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