Kornel Mundruczó’s ‘Place To Be’ to Star Taika Waititi, Ellen Burstyn and Pamela Anderson

Here’s a project that’s just started production. Kornel Mundruczó, the Hungarian filmmaker behind “Pieces of a Woman” and “White God,” has set up another American film — titled “Place To Be” — this one starring Taika Waititi, Ellen Burstyn and Pamela Anderson.

Per the synopsis, the drama film follows the unlikely friendship of an elderly woman and middle-aged man as they travel from Chicago to New York to return a lost racing pigeon home.

Kata Wéber, who wrote Mundruczó’s best films, will be penning the screenplay. Mundruczó is currently in post on his Amy Adams-starring “At the Sea” — we can probably expect a launch at a film festival for that one.

Yes, “Place To Be” has an odd cast, and even after her turn in “The Last Showgirl,” I’m still not impressed by Anderson’s acting talents. I found her ‘Last Showgirl’ performance flat and overpraised. Add in Waititi into the mix and you have a recipe for disaster.

Mundruczó was a Cannes regular. As much as I liked “White God,” I was equally impressed by “Pieces of A Woman” which had the misfortune of being released during the pandemic in 2020 — it featured Vanessa Kirby’s best performance.

I was less taken by Mundruczó’s other films which included the overwrought “Jupiter’s Moon,” “Evolution” and “Tender Son.” He’s a hit-or-miss director, but, on a technical level, very gifted. He just needs the right screenplay. Hopefully, “At the Sea” and “Place to Be” will turn out to be one of his better efforts.