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Read Full BioNetflix has released the first trailer for ‘Ballad of a Small Player’, a new movie that stars Colin Farrell as a gambling addict in Macao.
In the film, Farrell plays Lord Doyle, who spends the majority of his time gambling at the casinos in the autonomous region of China. The movie is one of the largest budget productions in the area and could provide a boost to tourism amid a period of growth.
The movie also stars Tilda Swinton as Cynthia Blithe, a private investigator who is trailing Lord Doyle. Edward Berger, known for All Quiet On The Western Front, directs in a follow-up to Conclave. Rowan Joffe, best known for writing 28 Weeks Later, wrote the screenplay, which is based on a book by Lawrence Osborne.
The film is scheduled for a limited U.S. release on October 15 and will be available on Netflix starting October 29.
Macao Casino Stocks Booming
The setting of the movie is Macao’s casinos, which are experiencing a period of high growth in the Hong Kong and US markets. Financial analysts predict the casinos are “poised to continue their recent outperformance.”
A recent report showed that gaming shares rose 59% since their low point in April. MGM China Holdings, meanwhile, saw a 72% rise in its prices, before a slight drop in the last month.
One of the drivers behind growth is the casinos tapping into pop culture. Recent concert performances by the veteran Hong Kong pop star Jacky Cheung and the K-pop A-lister G-Dragon have helped increase tourism in the region.
In June, Morningstar analyst Jennifer Song said a “supportive visa regime, enhanced travel infrastructure, and the expansion of non-gaming offerings” would result in “robust gaming revenue” this year.
Bring True Macao To Audiences
The movie featuring Farrell could further attract new visitors to the area. Director Berger said he wants to bring the true Macao to audiences.
In an interview with Tatler Asia, he said: “Macau has a wealth of locations, from Portuguese colonial country houses to new high rises. It has the glamour, the architecture, the shine, the pulsating lights at night … visually, it’s very attractive, and almost completely overlooked by the rest of the world. I was very drawn to the opportunity to bring the true Macau to audiences with my upcoming film The Ballad of a Small Player.”
Movies in the past that showcased Macao include James Bond’s Man with the Golden Gun, and more recently, Now You See Me 2. Both glamorize the region’s casinos and have contributed to the area’s allure as the ‘Las Vegas of the East’.
