One of the few downsides of attending a major festival like TIFF is the sheer number of promising films, making it nearly impossible to see them all.
One movie I was particularly eager to squeeze into my schedule—but couldn’t—was The Friend, starring Naomi Watts and Bill Murray. Directed by Scott McGehee and David Siegel, this film is an adaptation of a novel by Sigrid Nunez.
It follows the story of a woman grappling with the loss of her friend and mentor. What adds complexity to her grieving process is inheriting her late friend’s Great Dane, an enormous pet that feels out of place in her small New York apartment.
Although The Friend received strong reviews at TIFF, it wasn’t immediately picked up for distribution. That changed when Bleecker Street acquired the rights and announced plans for a theatrical release in 2025.
Here’s the official synopsis:
In The Friend, writer and teacher Iris (played by Watts) finds her peaceful, solitary life in New York thrown into chaos when her closest friend and mentor (Murray) dies suddenly and leaves her his beloved 150-pound Great Dane.
The dog, named Apollo, poses many challenges for Iris, from wrecking her furniture to triggering eviction notices.
On a deeper level, Apollo’s constant presence serves as a reminder of her late friend’s complicated decisions in both life and death.
Despite these difficulties, Iris gradually forms an unexpected bond with the dog, leading her to confront her past, her lost friend, and her own creative life.
The Friend brings Watts and Murray together again after their previous collaboration in St. Vincent.
Bleecker Street has made a name for itself by releasing thought-provoking adult dramas in theaters, such as One Life, the Anthony Hopkins film that grossed over $5 million last winter.
With its A-list cast, The Friend has the potential to perform even better. It also boasts a charming canine co-star, Bing, who is sure to attract attention and might even outshine the human leads when it comes to drawing audiences to the box office.
