The world premiere of “Tetris” gave South by Southwest crowds a whole new look at Taron Egerton.
From his first screen appearance, Austin audiences couldn’t be quiet, cheering and clapping for his impassioned speeches, dad jokes and 1970s porn stache.
The film, which reveals a hidden political thriller in the story of its titular video game, stars Egerton as designer and entrepreneur Henk Rogers. After a simple deal at an electronic convention in Las Vegas goes awry, Rogers finds himself embroiled in overlapping disputes between every gambling company worth their salt, an English billionaire, and the Soviet Union itself. even, his life being threatened several times along the way.
The story behind “Tetris” is true – in part, anyway. The real Henk Rogers appeared for a post-screening Q&A alongside Alexey Pajitnov, the Russian designer behind the game, played by Nikita Yefremov in the film. While SXSW were thrilled to see Egerton, they were thoroughly impressed with Rogers and Pajitnov, who received a standing ovation when introduced on stage.
As moderator, SXSW Film and Television director Claudette Godfrey asked the “Tetris” team which of the film’s erratic events were accurate and which needed more creative license. They were mom to divulge the details.
“It’s all emotionally true,” screenwriter Noah Pink said with a smile.
Pajitnov confirmed, “It was emotionally, intellectually and spiritually a very truthful film.”
Godfrey pushed, questioning the reality of a scene where Rogers signs a secret document to two Nintendo employees, who then show him a prototype of the Game Boy – the company’s first-ever foray into handheld devices. .
“I’m still under the NDA,” Rogers joked.
Egerton found that working on “Tetris” reunited him with his favorite things about his job.
“I think what I particularly linked to the script is quite universal, because although it’s an extraordinary story – a global phenomenon, well recognized – it’s really a story of a friendship between two guys from two very different geographical locations and ideologies, but they bond over something that’s quite childish,” he said. “It’s the love of acting. is what I do.