Stephen Fry has been described as a “quintessential Englishman” and, because of his Cambridge College diploma and roles in movies reminiscent of “Gosford Park” and “Wilde,” he’s received a resumé to show it. But it surely seems his newest position, as Polish Holocaust survivor Edek within the upcoming function “Treasure,” is nearer to residence. Premiering on the Berlin Movie Competition this month, “Treasure” sees Fry star reverse Lena Dunham (who additionally govt produced the venture) as a father-daughter duo who return to Poland to confront their household’s tragic previous.

Regardless of the heavy subject material — the Julia von Heinz-directed function shot on location in Germany and Poland, together with Auschwitz — there’s comedy too. In addition to talking Polish all through the film (a language Fry isn’t fluent in) he even sings karaoke in it. Fry spent final winter taking Polish classes on Skype in between capturing Season 3 of “The Morning Present,” through which he at present visitor stars. “I did fairly a little bit of apply,” he tells Selection. “I needed to attempt to do it for actual.”

How did you become involved on this venture?

I used to be despatched a script. I’m not going to say I get despatched the identical variety of scripts that tumble into Barry Keoghan or Timothee Chalomet’s letterboxes however I do get a good quantity and most of them are disappointing in some methods. This was outstanding. I assumed it was so transferring and touching. Additionally I’ve to admit there was a private ingredient; a Jewish man of that era who had survived the camps rang numerous bells in my circle of relatives story. Plus I liked that Lena Dunham was concerned because the EP and star. I so admire what she did with “Ladies” and I believe she’s such a expertise. The concept of working together with her was actually thrilling.

What was essentially the most difficult a part of the shoot?

No query: going to Auschwitz. Nothing can fairly put together you for that have. I’ve by no means been earlier than. We couldn’t movie the scenes inside Auschwitz, you’re not allowed to try this, however we have been in a position to be exterior it. It occurred to be a stupendous morning, fairly frosty, so you may see [the barracks]. Standing on the railway there, understanding that the trains that got here in [were transporting people to their deaths] — it’s a really, very extraordinary expertise. We had a day earlier than filming to — I don’t know what the phrase is — “acclimatize” ourselves to the actual fact we have been at that place.

You and Lena play a father and daughter. What was it like working together with her?

Completely great. She’s the sweetest and most great firm. What makes a contented shoot is once you belief the director, when the director is aware of what they need. This was an exquisite feeling that we have been a staff all working collectively. Julia really suffered from COVID in some unspecified time in the future once we have been filming and directed us from exterior the situation. But it surely was a really comfortable shoot, there have been no disasters.

There’s one scene the place there’s a hearth alarm on the lodge and you must run out in a flimsy dressing robe. Given it was February in Jap Europe, how chilly was it to shoot?

Very! And I want that trays of vodka that have been taken round by the lodge supervisor [in the scene] have been actual vodka to heat me up inside. It’s the snow at evening that make you are feeling you’re incomes your cash. However actually, it wasn’t that unhealthy.

This will probably be your first time on the Berlinale. How are you feeling about it?

I’m trying ahead to it very a lot. I do know it is extremely vital pageant for this sort of movie and I hope folks prefer it. It’s not in competitors so we don’t need to sweat about the way it does in that sense. You simply hope that the folks reply to it in a optimistic manner and get one thing out of it.

Belongings you didn’t learn about Stephen Fry…

His first performing job was as an additional on “Chariots of Hearth” when he was a pupil at Cambridge College in England.

He as soon as randomly discovered himself in an elevator with Clint Eastwood in Edinburgh, Scotland the place they exchanged compliments.

He first fell in love with Oscar Wilde when he caught Anthony Asquith’s 1952 movie adaptation of “The Significance of Being Earnest” on TV as a younger boy. Fry went on to play the author in “Wilde.”

He was first launched to “Home” star Hugh Laurie at Cambridge College by Emma Thompson. Laurie was taking part in a guitar in his dorm room and so they instantly started writing a music collectively. The duo later fashioned a comedy act known as Fry & Laurie.