Acclaimed Italian director Gabriele Salvatores is returning to the big screen with The Lüneburg Variation, a dark psychological thriller inspired by Paolo Maurensig’s cult novel of the same name. Filming is set to begin this November across Trieste, Munich, and Vienna—three cities deeply intertwined with the story’s complex themes of memory, rivalry, and revenge.

After the international success of Naples – New York, Salvatores, a Naples-born filmmaker long associated with Milan, is embarking on his sixth cinematic project set in Trieste. With The Lüneburg Variation, he brings to life a haunting narrative where chess becomes both metaphor and battleground for justice and psychological warfare.

A Strategy of Vengeance

At the heart of the story lies a cryptic chess maneuver—the titular “Lüneburg Variation”—a move plotted over time to deliver a decisive outcome. In the film, it becomes a powerful symbol for revenge, the culmination of a life-long plan, the final move in a moral reckoning.

Based on Maurensig’s 1993 novel (published by Adelphi), the film explores heavy historical themes including Nazism, Jewish persecution, and intergenerational trauma. The narrative begins with the suspicious death of Professor Hans Meyer, a reclusive German industrialist who apparently dies by suicide. A young, unnamed musician becomes embroiled in Meyer’s mysterious past after receiving a letter from Tabori, a former Hungarian chess master.

In Vienna, Tabori recounts his harrowing life story: once a renowned Jewish chess player, he was deported to a concentration camp during World War II. To survive, he was forced to play chess for the amusement of his Nazi captors. Among them was Hans Meyer—then known as Ludwig—a gifted but sadistic player. Their games become symbolic duels, pitting intellect and spirit against power and cruelty. According to Tabori, he didn’t just defeat Meyer at chess, but dismantled him morally and spiritually.

A European Co-Production Rooted in Memory

In adapting the novel, Salvatores has grounded part of the story in Trieste, giving the protagonist Jewish-Triestine roots. This choice honors the city’s historical Jewish community—one of the most significant in Italy. As in the novel, Vienna and Munich remain key settings, reinforcing the story’s deep European resonance.

The multilingual script—shot in both Italian and German—reflects the film’s cross-cultural scope. The cast features an impressive mix of talent from both countries.

Among the Italian cast are Toni Servillo, reuniting with Salvatores after The Return of Casanova, and Andrea Avagliano, known for his roles in La storia and My Brilliant Friend.

Damian Hardung: From Netflix to the Big Screen

Leading the German cast is Damian Hardung, a rising star and Gen Z icon. Known for his breakout roles in the Netflix hit How To Sell Drugs Online (Fast) and Prime Video’s Maxton Hall (now filming its third and final season), Hardung has built an international fanbase. His recent work includes the Holocaust drama Stella: A Life, released between 2023 and 2025 in over a dozen countries, and the teen dramedy Love Sucks, whose international rights were recently acquired by France Télévisions.

Fluent in Italian, Hardung has become a familiar face in cross-border productions. In 2019, he starred in the globally broadcast series The Name of the Rose, playing the Benedictine novice Adso of Melk.

Coming November 2025

Production on The Lüneburg Variation is set to start in November 2025. With its rich narrative layers, historical depth, and cross-cultural cast, the film promises to be one of the most compelling European releases of the coming year.

📷IMAGO/Eventpress