Miss Whit Stillman and his charming, highly literate cinema? Well, not to worry: the filmmaker has his first project since 2016’s “Love & Friendship” lined up. And it’s Stillman’s first foray into TV, too.
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Stillman will team up with Infinity Hill, Lauranne Bourrachot, and Global Screen for “The Splendid Affinities,” a European-set romantic comedy adventure series. A rom-com adventure by Stillman sounds fun, but what’s the show’s actual story? Here’s a brief synopsis from the show’s official press release:
The Splendid Affinities is set in the present day, thirty years after the end of the Soviet era, where the fictional Baltic republic of Vronyia is again under threat – as is the life of its beloved Prince Michael, elder statesman of the country’s return to democracy. The tentacles of violence extend to London, Paris and Madrid with our heroes out to save the nation, its deposed leaders, and the world, in the most stylish – least bloody – way possible – with dreams of finding love while doing so.
So, “The Splendid Affinities” sees Stillman return to Spain (and Europe in general) for the first time since 1994’s “Barcelona.” Sounds great to us. And it also sounds like Stillman’s excited about the project. “A popular genre, always rare, has become rarer: adventure with humor and romance,” the director said in the show’s press release. “Films and series in the genre often involve true, significant conflicts and a historical moment that provides intriguing storylines and high stakes. The world is again at such a crossroads, the time for adventure returned.”
Global Screen shops “The Splendid Affinities” on the Berlinale market as the 2023 rendition of the festival kicks off. And expect a network or streamer to scoop this one up quickly. A globe-trotting romantic adventure from a beloved director in his TV series debut? That sounds like something fans of “The White Lotus” could get on board with.
