Filmmakers David Siegel and Scott McGehee have been making independent films for over thirty years, and while they might not be the most prolific filmmakers, they always tend to release thought-provoking films with a mix of original and adapted works.
Their latest film is The Friend, starring Naomi Watts as Iris, a New York-based writer and editor whose mentor Walter (played by Bill Murray) dies suddenly, leaving his Great Dane Apollo to her. Based on a novel by Sigrid Nunez, the film follows Iris’ journey in dealing with the death of her friend while also trying to figure out how to deal with the giant pooch in a small apartment that doesn’t allow pets. The film’s cast includes Carla Gugino, Constange Wu, Cloé Xhauflaire, and Sarah Pidgeon.
Cinema Daily US recently spoke with Siegel and McGehee about their decision to adapt Nunez’s novel, how their project ended up bumping up against Pedro Almodovar’s own Nunez adaptation, The Room Next Door, and of course, they talk about finding the Great Dane Bing to portray Appolo and how Naomi Watts adjusted to handling such a big dog. They also address why there have been long gaps in between the release of their films over the years, and how they’ve ventured into television but with none of their shows ever were produced.
The Friend is currently playing in New York, but it will be released nationwide on Friday, April 4. You can watch my own original review for the movie from the New York Film Festival on Cinema Daily’s YouTube page.
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Writer/Directors: David Siegel, Scott McGehee
Cast: Naomi Watts, Bill Murray
Producer: David Siegel, Scott McGehee, Liza Chasin, Mike Spreter
Production Co: 3dot productions, Big Creek Projects
Distributor: Bleecker Street
Rating: R (Language Including a Sexual Reference)
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): March 28, 2025 (New York)
Runtime: 2 hours
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You can watch the trailer below: