Mikael “Valle“ Varhelyi as local art director for ”The American“ with George Clooney
Academy Award winner George Clooney recently came to Sweden, to shoot the opening scenes of Anton Corbijn’s new movie “The American”, in which Clooney stars in the title role. Magnolia Production Designer Mikael “Valle” Varhelyi was hired as the local Art Director and has been on location in Östersund, where the shoot took place. The screenplay by Rowan Joffe is adapted from Martin Booth’s novel “A Very Private Gentleman”, published in 2005, and the film is Anton Corbijn’s second feature film as director, following the award-winning 2007 drama “Control”, for which the director was honored with two British Independent Film Awards. Synopsis; Alone among assassins, Jack (played by Clooney) is a master craftsman. When a job in Sweden ends more harshly than expected for this American abroad, he vows to his contact Larry that his next assignment will be his last. Jack reports to the Italian countryside, where he holes up in a small town and relishes being away from death for a spell. The assignment, as specified by a Belgian woman, Mathilde, is in the offing as a weapon is constructed. Surprising himself, Jack seeks out the friendship of local priest Father Benedetto and pursues romance with local woman Clara. But by stepping out of the shadows, Jack may be tempting fate.