Film still of The Dark of Night © RR
Interesting facts about The Dark of Night, Robin Wright’s first short
Robin Wright is a familiar face from films such as Forrest Gump, Millenium and Everest, and of course in the guise of Claire Underwood in House of Cards. But it's less well known that she also directed seven episodes in the series. Today, her work as a director takes her onto the big screen with her first short, The Dark of Night, presented in her presence in Opening of the Cannes Classic's selection to mark the Festival's 70th anniversary. Wright's film is a blend of noir thriller and close-up drama in a diner.
A legendary diner. The Dark of Night tells of the mysterious encounter between a woman and a waitress, a police officer and a homeless person in a restaurant. The same one that provided a backdrop for Barry Levinson.'s first feature Diner (1982). That's where the young Kevin Bacon and Mickey Rourke began, in a group of students who come together for a friendly meal which soon goes off the rails. Ten years after Diner, Barry Levinson brought in Robin Wright for Toys before renewing their collaboration in 2008 with What Just Happened.
The shadow of House of Cards hovers over the entire film, beginning with the casting. Nini Le Huynh, who appeared alongside Robin Wright in some episodes of the series as Claire Underwood's assistant, also featured in The Dark of Night. In all, around a hundred members of the House of Cards team joined the actress in this new filmmaking adventure.
Top speed! Screenwriter Denise Meyers wrote The Dark of Night as part of a competition. She had eight days to finish the exercise but managed to pen virtually all the film in an hour and a half. Two years later, it was time to shoot: again at an express speed – the ten-minute film was shot in just two days.
