Griffin Dunne Plays Architect Louis Kahn in New Film About His Final House
The biographical drama, which premieres in Estonia on November 7, focuses on the architect's late career and his relationship with client Steve Korman.
By Ibrahim Howard ·
Griffin Dunne stars as Louis I. Kahn in the new film Joy Will Prevail. The movie, directed by Max Korman, covers the final three years of Kahn's life. It centers on the construction of a home in Philadelphia for client Steve Korman. This project was the last residential building Kahn designed before he died in 1974.
Kahn, who was born in Kuressaare on the Estonian island of Saaremaa, established his own atelier in Philadelphia in 1935. He is known for large-scale structures including the National Assembly Building in Bangladesh, the Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth, and the Salk Institute in La Jolla. The film depicts his friendship with Steve Korman and shows how Kahn managed his personal life while raising children with three different women.
The story is personal for director Max Korman. His grandfather, Steve Korman, commissioned the house that became the Korman House. The film portrays this home as the director's childhood residence. The cast also includes Jennifer Beals and Alexis Bledel. Ben Rosenfield plays Steve Korman, and Molly Ephraim joins the ensemble.
The movie had its world premiere at the Philadelphia Film Festival. It will hold its international premiere on Saturday, November 7, at the 30th Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival in Estonia. Dunne and Korman will attend the screening in Tallinn. The production is organized in cooperation with the Louis Kahn Estonia Foundation.
The film team plans to travel to Kuressaare on Sunday, November 8. They will host a special screening of Joy Will Prevail in the town where Kahn was born. Joshua Echevarria served as cinematographer, and Sarah Flack edited the film. J. Andrew Greenblatt, Max Korman, Derek Dienner, and Alex Peace-Power produced the movie. Anthony Faure, Christopher Rivera, and Grace Wagner served as co-producers.
A trailer for the film is now available. It offers the first look at the biographical journey depicted in the movie. The footage features Dunne, Beals, and Bledel. The release brings Kahn's story back to the country where his life began.
