The first pictures have emerged of A Late Quartet, an independent movie starring Philip Seymour Hoffman, Catherine Keener, Christopher Walken and Mark Ivanir as members of a world-renowned quartet facing up to illness and inner tensions. The film was shot in New York earlier this year, and will likely be released in early 2012. The synopsis, from West End Films, is as follows:

The four members of a world-renowned string quartet struggle to stay together in the face of death, competing egos and insuppressible lust.

Set in iconic New York City, this is the story of four musicians, bound together by their passion for music and long years of working together. But when their patriarch Peter is diagnosed with a terminal illness, the repercussions hit the group deeper than they could imagine. First and second violinists Robert and Daniel row over first chair, Robert and violist Juliette's marriage hits the rocks when he has an affair, and their headstrong daughter embarks on her own explosive affair – with Daniel.

As their 25th anniversary performance looms, the musicians must either find a way to overcome their troubles, and preserve their legacy – or part ways forever.

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