Macau set ‘Ballad of a Small Player’ holds Canadian premiere

Golden Globe-winning actor Colin Farrell and Hong Kong-American actress Fala Chen attended the Toronto International Film Festival for the Canadian premiere of The Ballad of a Small Player.

The Macau-shot film offers an immersive look into the city’s casino culture.

Last year, filming took place over 33 days across Macau’s casinos. Scenes were shot on the live casino floors at Wynn’s resorts, capturing the buzz of actual high rollers in the city.

Farrell plays a velvet-suited conman struggling with a gambling addiction, pursued by an investigator portrayed by Swinton, in a story infused with surreal and dark twists.

Speaking with media in Toronto, Farrell reflected on the immersive experience of shooting in Macau, saying, “I spent a crazy eight weeks living in hotels in the middle of the gambling strip… which I can’t imagine I would ever do otherwise.”

Director Edward Berger, known for his Oscar-nominated All Quiet on the Western Front, said the film captures Macau’s exuberance and color, and told AFP, “It’s never really been shown like that on screen in a Western film.”

Both Berger and the cast familiarized themselves with baccarat, Macau’s most popular casino game and a game essential to the plot, though Farrell joked, “No, not for me, man… One affliction I never got, gambling.”

The Ballad of a Small Player will open in U.S. theaters on October 15, followed by a UK release on October 17. It will be available for streaming on Netflix starting October 29.