Film: ‘The Performance’ to have its world premiere at Roma Cinema Fest

‘The Performance’, a film adaptation of the short story from legendary playwright Arthur Miller’s final work, starring Jeremy Piven and Robert Carlyle, will make its World Premiere at the Roma Cinema Fest.

Emmy and Golden Globe winner Jeremy Piven (Entourage) and BAFTA Award winner Robert Carlyle (Trainspotting, The Full Monty) star with an ensemble cast of trained tap dancers including Maimie McCoy (The Musketeers), Adam Garcia (Coyote Ugly), Lara Wolf (Quantico), Tony nominated Jared Grimes (Swing Kids), Yaniv Biton (The Monkey House), and newcomer Isaac Gryn in this film produced by Sparks Go and Daniel Finkelman Films.

‘The Performance’ follows the journey of Harold May (Piven), a gifted tap dancer and second-generation Jewish American immigrant whose career has been relegated to the New York club scene. While on tour in Europe, Harold and the rest of his troupe are scouted by a German attaché (Carlyle), who offers the dancers an irresistible sum of money for a single performance.

Little do they know the show is for Adolf Hitler.

A film the resonates to this day

Shira Piven (Welcome to Me, Fully Loaded) directs Miller’s story, which first appeared in The New Yorker.

“It was an honour to inhabit Harold May,” said Jeremy Piven. “I’ve been trying to make this film for 12 years and to be in Italy where some of the masters of film originated for its world premiere is extremely exciting. Tragically, this movie is incredibly relevant right now. But this is how I can contribute to the conversation; through storytelling and doing what I do. It is going to lead to a lot of conversations I can’t wait to have.”

Shira Piven and Joshua Salzberg adapted the short story for the screen, which was primarily filmed in Bratislava, Slovakia.

“The relevance of this film has resonated with me,” said Daniel Finkelman, who produced the film alongside Chaya Amor. “As the movie explores the risks and rewards of assimilation, Harold faces a choice: conceal his true identity in order to realise his dreams, or give up on the career he’s been pursuing his entire life.”

“Our film begs the audience to examine “the pursuit of happiness at all costs”, while also showcasing how easily history can repeat itself if left forgotten,” added producer Jenny Shakeshaft.

‘The Performance’ will make its world premier at the Roma Cinema Fest on Saturday 28th October.

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