What is poignant about “This Life of Mine” — the final film by French writer-director Sophie Fillières — is all but impossible to extract from the beleaguered circumstances of its creation. Aged just 58, Fillières died last summer, shortly after completing the shoot of this wistful, somewhat autofictional study of midlife feminine crisis. Postproduction was supervised by her children, the actors Agathe and Adam Bonitzer, with the guidance of notes Fillières made in hospital, when it became clear to her that she’d never complete the project herself. What emerges from this process is a suitably elegiac testament to Fillières’ curious comic voice, centered on a fragile alter ego — played with a game lack of vanity by Agnès Jaoui — fearful that her life is passing her by. As filmmaking, however, it wants for shape and drive, and the intuitive editorial decision-making that only an author can bring to her work.
Heavy on wordplay and loose conversational drift,...
Heavy on wordplay and loose conversational drift,...
- 5/16/2024
- by Guy Lodge
- Variety Film + TV
French writer-director Sophie Fillières, who tragically died last year from cancer at the age of 58, was no stranger to depicting manic situations on screen.
Her genre of choice was comedy, and in films like Gentille (2005), Pardon My French (2009) and When Margaux Meets Margaux (2018), she used the prism of humor to portray women going through major personal crises, whether involving their turbulent love lives or the excorcism of their own inner demons. Fillières’ chatty, messy, offbeat movies played like darker Parisian takes on the films of Woody Allen, and they would inspire a generation of younger female auteurs like Justine Triet, whose Oscar-winning Anatomy of a Fall Fillières played a small role in.
A major personal crisis is what guides the director’s final feature, This Life of Mine (Ma Vie Ma Gueule), which stars Agnès Jaoui as a writer combatting her mental illness with plenty of wit and a fair amount of gravitas.
Her genre of choice was comedy, and in films like Gentille (2005), Pardon My French (2009) and When Margaux Meets Margaux (2018), she used the prism of humor to portray women going through major personal crises, whether involving their turbulent love lives or the excorcism of their own inner demons. Fillières’ chatty, messy, offbeat movies played like darker Parisian takes on the films of Woody Allen, and they would inspire a generation of younger female auteurs like Justine Triet, whose Oscar-winning Anatomy of a Fall Fillières played a small role in.
A major personal crisis is what guides the director’s final feature, This Life of Mine (Ma Vie Ma Gueule), which stars Agnès Jaoui as a writer combatting her mental illness with plenty of wit and a fair amount of gravitas.
- 5/15/2024
- by Jordan Mintzer
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The 77th edition of Cannes’ Directors’ Fortnight will kick off with “This Life of Mine,” a dramedy directed by Sophie Fillières, a renowned French filmmaker who died last year. Presented posthumously, the film is headlined by French stars including Agnès Jaoui, Philippe Katerine and Valérie Donzelli. The independent selection, which has recently gone through a rebranding and is now spearheaded by artistic director Julien Rejl, will close with another French film, Jean-Christophe Meurisse’s “Plastic Guns,” an offbeat crime comedy headlined by popular actor Jonathan Cohen.
The lineup includes as many as four U.S. features, three of which are feature debuts, including India Donaldson’s coming-of-age film”Good One” which premiered at Sundance and garnered solid reviews. Set in upstate New York, “Good One” follows 17-year-old Sam as she joins her father and his oldest friend, Matt, on their annual backpacking trip in the Catskill Mountains. “Good One” has...
The lineup includes as many as four U.S. features, three of which are feature debuts, including India Donaldson’s coming-of-age film”Good One” which premiered at Sundance and garnered solid reviews. Set in upstate New York, “Good One” follows 17-year-old Sam as she joins her father and his oldest friend, Matt, on their annual backpacking trip in the Catskill Mountains. “Good One” has...
- 4/16/2024
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Netflix has unveiled an untitled French-language thriller starring Vincent Cassel as a jaded DJ alongside a cast also featuring YouTube star and rapper Mister V and music producer Kavinsky, best known for the Drive track Nightcall.
It is the first feature from French graphic designer, animator, director and music producer Bertrand Lagros de Langeron, who is known professionally as So Me.
Cassel plays Scorpex, a once-famous DJ on the downslide, who has not come to terms with the fact that his glory days are over.
When Rose (Laura Felpin), an eccentric agent from French Intelligence Agency offers him the opportunity to take down popular rival Vestax (Mister V), he sees it as a chance to revive his career with a bang.
Further cast members include Alexis Manenti, Déborah Lukumuena, Nina Zem, Nicolas Maury, Philippe Katerine, Paul Mirabel, Panayotis Pascot, Manu Payet and Alice Moitié.
The feature is produced by the...
It is the first feature from French graphic designer, animator, director and music producer Bertrand Lagros de Langeron, who is known professionally as So Me.
Cassel plays Scorpex, a once-famous DJ on the downslide, who has not come to terms with the fact that his glory days are over.
When Rose (Laura Felpin), an eccentric agent from French Intelligence Agency offers him the opportunity to take down popular rival Vestax (Mister V), he sees it as a chance to revive his career with a bang.
Further cast members include Alexis Manenti, Déborah Lukumuena, Nina Zem, Nicolas Maury, Philippe Katerine, Paul Mirabel, Panayotis Pascot, Manu Payet and Alice Moitié.
The feature is produced by the...
- 3/27/2024
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
Vincent Cassel plays an aging Edm DJ in the upcoming comedy thriller from French music video director So Me, aka Bertrand de Langeron. Artistic director of the Ed Banger label and known for his music videos for Justice, Kanye West, Mgmt, and Kid Cudi, So Me is making his feature film debut with the still-untilted French feature for Netflix.
Black Swan and Ocean’s Thirteen star Cassel plays Scorpex, a once-famous DJ now on the downside who gets a chance to return to the top when an agent from French intelligence agency Dgsi (played by Golden Mustache actress Laura Felpin) recruits him to take down Vestax (French YouTuber Mister V), his young and fast-rising rival on the Edm scene. Co-stars include Alexis Manenti, Déborah Lukumuena, Nina Zem, Nicolas Maury, Philippe Katerine, Kavinsky, Paul Mirabel, Panayotis Pascot, Manu Payet and Alice Moitié.
Netflix released the first image from the film (above), showing Cassel,...
Black Swan and Ocean’s Thirteen star Cassel plays Scorpex, a once-famous DJ now on the downside who gets a chance to return to the top when an agent from French intelligence agency Dgsi (played by Golden Mustache actress Laura Felpin) recruits him to take down Vestax (French YouTuber Mister V), his young and fast-rising rival on the Edm scene. Co-stars include Alexis Manenti, Déborah Lukumuena, Nina Zem, Nicolas Maury, Philippe Katerine, Kavinsky, Paul Mirabel, Panayotis Pascot, Manu Payet and Alice Moitié.
Netflix released the first image from the film (above), showing Cassel,...
- 3/27/2024
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Netflix is nothing if not a goldmine of content, with basically something to watch for everyone, and today we are making a list of the best new movies coming to Netflix in November 2023 that you can watch in the upcoming month. The movies in this list are ranked according to their availability dates.
Locked In (November 1)
Synopsis: A romantic crime thriller pitting unhappy newlywed Lina against her rich, coldhearted mother-in-law Katherine. An affair sets off a chain reaction that will result in a love triangle, a murder and plot to bring Lina down. But who is the real victim and who can Lina trust?
Wingwomen (November 1)
Synopsis: Voleuses ,is the new film of Mélanie Laurent with Adèle Exarchopoulos, Mélanie Laurent, Manon Bresch, Philippe Katerine, Felix Moati and Isabelle Adjani in the role of Marraine.
The Social Network (November 1)
Synopsis: David Fincher’s The Social Network is the stunning tale of...
Locked In (November 1)
Synopsis: A romantic crime thriller pitting unhappy newlywed Lina against her rich, coldhearted mother-in-law Katherine. An affair sets off a chain reaction that will result in a love triangle, a murder and plot to bring Lina down. But who is the real victim and who can Lina trust?
Wingwomen (November 1)
Synopsis: Voleuses ,is the new film of Mélanie Laurent with Adèle Exarchopoulos, Mélanie Laurent, Manon Bresch, Philippe Katerine, Felix Moati and Isabelle Adjani in the role of Marraine.
The Social Network (November 1)
Synopsis: David Fincher’s The Social Network is the stunning tale of...
- 11/2/2023
- by Kulwant Singh
- Cinema Blind
Wingwomen is a movie directed by Mélanie Laurent based on the novel by Jérôme Mulot. It stars Mélanie Laurent, Adèle Exarchopoulos, and Isabelle Adjani.
“Wingwomen ” is a comedy that combines action and humor and, after a somewhat hesitant start in terms of pace, gradually takes shape and structure in the cinematic sense. It is a film that knows what it’s playing and what its strengths are – a light French comedy with a touch of action, pace, and three endearing women who know how to handle themselves in a challenging world.
While the plot may not be entirely original, and it is not a role that showcases Isabelle Adjani’s talents, who is, nonetheless, the main attraction of the film and it reminds us of her recent performances.
Movie Review Wingwomen
“Wingwomen ” may not be a film that you will remember for a lifetime, nor will it be an unpleasant experience.
“Wingwomen ” is a comedy that combines action and humor and, after a somewhat hesitant start in terms of pace, gradually takes shape and structure in the cinematic sense. It is a film that knows what it’s playing and what its strengths are – a light French comedy with a touch of action, pace, and three endearing women who know how to handle themselves in a challenging world.
While the plot may not be entirely original, and it is not a role that showcases Isabelle Adjani’s talents, who is, nonetheless, the main attraction of the film and it reminds us of her recent performances.
Movie Review Wingwomen
“Wingwomen ” may not be a film that you will remember for a lifetime, nor will it be an unpleasant experience.
- 11/1/2023
- by Martin Cid
- Martin Cid Magazine - Movies
This past weekend we had the chance to chat with French filmmaker Sophie Letourner on her Rotterdam-preemed Voyages en Italie (which was released domestically in France in March and is currently popping up on the international film festival circuit) and we learned that there’ll be a part two and three. Letourner has the screenplay and blue-print currently in place, and will likely spend 2024 financing the project and casting members of the family. Philippe Katerine will be back in the fold as Jean-Philippe – the father and husband who would definitely much prefer to visit Italy over Spain. The second instalment puts the focus on the children – also going on vacation.…...
- 10/10/2023
- by Eric Lavallée
- IONCINEMA.com
"Okay, it's showtime!" Netflix has dropped the full trailer for the French heist comedy called Wingwomen, the latest feature film directed by actress Mélanie Laurent (following up her films The Mad Women's Ball and Galveston previously). The film's original French title is just Voleuses, which translates to Thieves, but apparently this doesn't work as well in English - so they switched to Wingwomen. Inspired by Bastien Vivès, Jérôme Mulot and Florent Ruppert's French graphic novel "La Grande Odalisque", the film is about a gang of female expert thieves targeting high-end loot. Tired of life on the run, two expert thieves and best friends recruit feisty Sam (Bresch) to assist them with one last job — unlike any they've done before. This fun action comedy stars Adèle Exarchopoulos, Mélanie Laurent, and Manon Bresch as the three main women, with Philippe Katerine, Felix Moati, and Isabelle Adjani as Marraine. Looks like it'll be entertaining.
- 10/4/2023
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Netflix has been boasting about their film slate for 2023 after a successful 2022. The streaming giant already put out such content as Arnold, a documentary about Arnold Schwarzenegger, as well as an action comedy starring the legend with Fubar. The platform pushed their additional action flicks like the newly released Heart of Stone, The Mother and Extraction 2. Award season will bring such titles as The Killer and Maestro, and now Netflix is promoting a bevy of other titles in various genres for the rest of the year.
The streamer has released a list of original films that are scheduled for the fall. You can view the full list on Tudum here.
Love at First Sight – September 15
After missing her flight from New York to London, Hadley (Haley Lu Richardson) meets Oliver (Ben Hardy) in a chance encounter at the airport that sparks an instant connection. A long night on the...
The streamer has released a list of original films that are scheduled for the fall. You can view the full list on Tudum here.
Love at First Sight – September 15
After missing her flight from New York to London, Hadley (Haley Lu Richardson) meets Oliver (Ben Hardy) in a chance encounter at the airport that sparks an instant connection. A long night on the...
- 8/30/2023
- by EJ Tangonan
- JoBlo.com
The Cineuropa folks confirm that production on Sophie Fillières‘ seventh feature film is now complete (production took place in Scotland) – which means we’ll be aiming for a 2024 major film festival release. Fillières has been to Berlinale, Locarno and TIFF with her previous features. Among the cast in Ma vie ma gueule we find Agnès Jaoui, Philippe Katerine, Édouard Sulpice, Angelina Woreth, Emmanuel Salinger and filmmaker-actress Valérie Donzelli. Mother to actress Agathe Bonitzer, Fillières’ last film was La belle et la belle which starred Bonitzer, Sandrine Kiberlain and Melvil Poupaud.
Here is the synopsis from the Cineuropa folks:
This revolves around Barberie Bichette who’s also known as Barbie, and much to her dismay, she might have been beautiful, loved, a good mother to her children, a trustworthy colleague and a great lover, but now her life can be sombre, brutal, and often absurd, and it feels very strange for...
Here is the synopsis from the Cineuropa folks:
This revolves around Barberie Bichette who’s also known as Barbie, and much to her dismay, she might have been beautiful, loved, a good mother to her children, a trustworthy colleague and a great lover, but now her life can be sombre, brutal, and often absurd, and it feels very strange for...
- 7/18/2023
- by Eric Lavallée
- IONCINEMA.com
Mélanie Laurent, who broke through in Quentin Tarantino’s “Inglourious Basterds” and has since made a name for herself as a filmmaker, is back in the director’s chair with “Wingwomen,” coming to Netflix Nov. 1.
The movie, in which Laurent stars alongside Adèle Exarchopoulos, Manon Bresch and Isabelle Adjani, is a rare breed of action-comedy driven by fearless female characters. Laurent and Exarchopoulos star as high-profile thieves and best friends who decide to retire from their life on the run. They recruit Sam, a young and feisty car racer (Bresch) to assist them with one last job, but quickly clash with their godmother’s will (Adjani).
“Wingwomen” could be mistaken as a French twist on “Charlie’s Angels,” but the film boasts timely themes of female empowerment and sisterhood that are reminiscent of Laurent’s previous films, in particular 2021’s “The Mad Women’s Ball.”
Below, Variety talks with Laurent about “Wingwomen’s” feminist themes,...
The movie, in which Laurent stars alongside Adèle Exarchopoulos, Manon Bresch and Isabelle Adjani, is a rare breed of action-comedy driven by fearless female characters. Laurent and Exarchopoulos star as high-profile thieves and best friends who decide to retire from their life on the run. They recruit Sam, a young and feisty car racer (Bresch) to assist them with one last job, but quickly clash with their godmother’s will (Adjani).
“Wingwomen” could be mistaken as a French twist on “Charlie’s Angels,” but the film boasts timely themes of female empowerment and sisterhood that are reminiscent of Laurent’s previous films, in particular 2021’s “The Mad Women’s Ball.”
Below, Variety talks with Laurent about “Wingwomen’s” feminist themes,...
- 7/11/2023
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
"This is no normal job. And if we hire you, there's no test." Netflix has revealed a teaser trailer for a French heist comedy called Wingwomen, the latest feature film directed by actress Mélanie Laurent. The film's original French title is just Voleuses, which translates to Thieves, but apparently this doesn't work as well in English. Inspired by Bastien Vivès, Jérôme Mulot and Florent Ruppert's French graphic novel "La Grande Odalisque", the film is about a gang of female expert thieves targeting high-end loot. Tired of life on the run, two expert thieves and best friends recruit feisty Sam (Bresch) to assist them with one last job — unlike any they've done before. This stars Adèle Exarchopoulos, Mélanie Laurent, Manon Bresch, Philippe Katerine, Felix Moati, with Isabelle Adjani as Marraine. Looks like good fun! With three badass ladies. // Continue Reading ›...
- 7/10/2023
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
La Famille Bélier is the original French film adapted to Sian Heder’s Oscar-winning Coda.
Paris-based sales company Other Angle has boarded Victoria Bedos’ coming-of-age identity comedy-drama Dressed To Impress.
Bedos is the creator and co-writer of La Famille Bélier, the original French film adapted to Sian Heder’s Oscar-winning Coda that sold more than 7.45 million tickets during its 2014 run in France.
Dressed To Impress (French title: La Plus Belle Pour Aller Danser) is produced by Hélène Cases of France’s Lionceau Films and Universal will release the film in France on April 26th. Other Angle will kick off sales for the title at EFM.
Paris-based sales company Other Angle has boarded Victoria Bedos’ coming-of-age identity comedy-drama Dressed To Impress.
Bedos is the creator and co-writer of La Famille Bélier, the original French film adapted to Sian Heder’s Oscar-winning Coda that sold more than 7.45 million tickets during its 2014 run in France.
Dressed To Impress (French title: La Plus Belle Pour Aller Danser) is produced by Hélène Cases of France’s Lionceau Films and Universal will release the film in France on April 26th. Other Angle will kick off sales for the title at EFM.
- 2/17/2023
- by Rebecca Leffler
- ScreenDaily
The first thing which comes to mind to old film fans when they hear a title like Voyages en Italie will be: "Ah, the 1954 Rossellini film with Ingrid Bergman" and they'd be wrong. That film has many names but the closest to this one is Voyage en Italie (note the missing "s"). Voyages en Italie is the new film by Sophie Letourneur, a dryly comical relationship drama which had its world première at the International Film Festival Rotterdam last weekend. In Voyages en Italie we follow Sophie (played by Sophie Letourneur herself) and Jean-Philippe (Philippe Katerine), a French couple. As they are fifty-ish, have stressful jobs and a young son to care for, they are slightly washed out and, according to Sophie, very much...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
- 1/30/2023
- Screen Anarchy
Voyages en Italie
For her fifth feature film, Sophie Letourneur returns in front of the camera and behind for the Arte France Cinéma and Cnc supported Voyages en Italie. The compact, Rotterdam-selected title finds a French couple (with Philippe Katerine) looking for a relationship hack. The programming team are calling this a zany rom-com. This was shot in early 2022. Her last film in 2019’s Enormous with Marina Foïs (also a Rotterdam selection) won the prestigious Prix Jean-Vigo award.
Gist: Sophie decides to head off with Jean-Philippe, just the two of them, in order to save their relationship, which has been engulfed by family life.…...
For her fifth feature film, Sophie Letourneur returns in front of the camera and behind for the Arte France Cinéma and Cnc supported Voyages en Italie. The compact, Rotterdam-selected title finds a French couple (with Philippe Katerine) looking for a relationship hack. The programming team are calling this a zany rom-com. This was shot in early 2022. Her last film in 2019’s Enormous with Marina Foïs (also a Rotterdam selection) won the prestigious Prix Jean-Vigo award.
Gist: Sophie decides to head off with Jean-Philippe, just the two of them, in order to save their relationship, which has been engulfed by family life.…...
- 1/5/2023
- by Eric Lavallée
- IONCINEMA.com
A mood of heightened melodrama gives way to something strangely enchanting in Petite Solange, the story of a 13-year-old girl coming to terms with the shattering notion that her parents’ love (and for that matter anyone’s) might not last. The director is Axelle Ropert, a French critic, actor, writer, and filmmaker whose career has pivoted between the genre films she and her partner, Serge Bozon, have collaborated on and her own body of work behind the camera. That personal side to her oeuvre has always tended more toward the familial and the bittersweet, just as it has proven Ropert a keen proponent of the Tolstoyan idea that happy families are only intriguing when torn apart.
Petite Solange centers around the unlikely named Maserati clan: a happy family and one ripe for the tearing. Newcomer Jade Springer gives an excellent performance as the eponymous teen, a young woman who finds...
Petite Solange centers around the unlikely named Maserati clan: a happy family and one ripe for the tearing. Newcomer Jade Springer gives an excellent performance as the eponymous teen, a young woman who finds...
- 8/11/2021
- by Rory O'Connor
- The Film Stage
“I was very struck by a quote by Fritz Lang, who said that ‘every film should criticize something,’ ” Axelle Ropert says. For the French filmmaker’s latest work “Petite Solange,” a world premiere at the Locarno Film Festival, it is the complicated aspects of familial life and interpersonal relationships that come under the microscope.
Ropert’s film follows young Solange as she witnesses the breakdown of her parents’ marriage and loses her sense of self in the process. Alone and neglected, her childlike spirit is broken by the realities of a toxic adult world. “I’m very much a cinephile and I always think of my films as starting from other films from the history of cinema that I’ve loved,” Ropert explains. “But this time I really started with the subject matter of divorce as seen from the child’s point of view. It’s a very important subject...
Ropert’s film follows young Solange as she witnesses the breakdown of her parents’ marriage and loses her sense of self in the process. Alone and neglected, her childlike spirit is broken by the realities of a toxic adult world. “I’m very much a cinephile and I always think of my films as starting from other films from the history of cinema that I’ve loved,” Ropert explains. “But this time I really started with the subject matter of divorce as seen from the child’s point of view. It’s a very important subject...
- 8/10/2021
- by Phuong Le and Caitlin Quinlan
- Variety Film + TV
French director Axelle Ropert makes an unwise shift from sprightly comedy to faux-naive artificiality with “Petite Solange,” a tiresome divorce drama seen through the eyes of an adolescent girl. Though clearly meant as a refreshing, femme-centric throwback to a style of filmmaking that petered out in the 1970s (Ropert cites inspiration from François Truffaut and Luigi Comencini), the results merely feel out of place, bizarrely innocent and clumsily executed. The fault lies in both concept and script, making it unlikely that “Solange” will be gracing many screens outside Francophone territories.
Danger signs are apparent right from the start when Benjamin Esdraffo’s inescapable saccharine music too quickly accompanies the action. The tunes are part and parcel of the film’s entire design, from the pale filtered visuals to the ’70s-influenced clothing — is that really a baked casserole the father serves up for dinner, and what on earth is going on...
Danger signs are apparent right from the start when Benjamin Esdraffo’s inescapable saccharine music too quickly accompanies the action. The tunes are part and parcel of the film’s entire design, from the pale filtered visuals to the ’70s-influenced clothing — is that really a baked casserole the father serves up for dinner, and what on earth is going on...
- 8/6/2021
- by Jay Weissberg
- Variety Film + TV
The company unveiled its French slate for the first half of 2021 at the online edition of Unifrance Rendez-Vous with French Cinema.
Paris-based mk2 films has launched sales on Robert Guédiguian’s youthful 1960s West Africa-set love story Mali Twist at this year’s Unifrance Rendez-Vous with French Cinema, which is running online from January 13 to 15.
The company has unveiled a first look image (see above) of the feature set against the backdrop of the febrile atmosphere of post-Colonial Mali, where youngsters danced to rock and roll music in the capital of Bamako against a backdrop of dreams of political renewal.
Paris-based mk2 films has launched sales on Robert Guédiguian’s youthful 1960s West Africa-set love story Mali Twist at this year’s Unifrance Rendez-Vous with French Cinema, which is running online from January 13 to 15.
The company has unveiled a first look image (see above) of the feature set against the backdrop of the febrile atmosphere of post-Colonial Mali, where youngsters danced to rock and roll music in the capital of Bamako against a backdrop of dreams of political renewal.
- 1/13/2021
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- ScreenDaily
The actress will star with Philippe Katerine in Sébastien Bailly’s feature debut, a La Mer à Boire production which will be sold by Loco Films and will soon begin filming. The first clapperboard will slam on 12 January for Comme une actrice, the first feature film by Sébastien Bailly who previously turned heads with Féminin plurielles (a programme released in cinemas in 2018 and consisting of three short films), Où je mets ma pudeur (in competition in Sundance 2014) and Douce (selected for Clermont-Ferrand’s national competition in 2012), to name a few. In terms of his cast, the director will rely on lead performances from Julie Gayet and Philippe Katerine (the winner of the 2019 Best Supporting Role César for Sink or...
Paris-based sales outfit Charades has boarded Louis-Julien Petit’s “The Kitchen Brigade” and Emmanuel Poulain-Arnaud’s “The Test.” Charades will begin sales on the pair of French films at the virtual UniFrance Rendez-Vous with French Cinema, which kicks off Jan. 13.
“The Kitchen Brigade” marks Petit’s follow up to “Invisibles,” a comedy-drama that tells the true story of homeless women reintegrating into society. The film was a box office hit in France with 1.3 million admissions sold, and was released in more than 30 territories.
Exploring the world of French gastronomy, “The Kitchen Brigade” tackles the issues of social justice and inclusion through the story of Cathy (Audrey Lamy), a determined 40-year-old sous-chef who dreams of opening her own gourmet restaurant. As she faces financial difficulties, Cathy takes a job in the cafeteria of a shelter for young migrants. While she hates her new position, Cathy’s skills and passion for cuisine...
“The Kitchen Brigade” marks Petit’s follow up to “Invisibles,” a comedy-drama that tells the true story of homeless women reintegrating into society. The film was a box office hit in France with 1.3 million admissions sold, and was released in more than 30 territories.
Exploring the world of French gastronomy, “The Kitchen Brigade” tackles the issues of social justice and inclusion through the story of Cathy (Audrey Lamy), a determined 40-year-old sous-chef who dreams of opening her own gourmet restaurant. As she faces financial difficulties, Cathy takes a job in the cafeteria of a shelter for young migrants. While she hates her new position, Cathy’s skills and passion for cuisine...
- 1/4/2021
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Petite Solange
For her fourth feature, writer/director Axelle Ropert will unleash Petite Solange, produced by Charlotte Vincent and lensed by Sebastien Buchmann. As usual, Ropert assembles an interesting cast with Lea Drucker (who won the Best Actress Cesar for Custody in 2019) and Philippe Katerine (who won the Best Supporting Cesar for Sink or Swim in 2019). They are joined by newcomer Jade Springer. Ropert is perhaps still best known for her screenplays of Serge Bozon’s last three films (La France; Tip Top; Mrs. Hyde), but her 2009 feature The Wolberg Family was programmed in Directors’ Fortnight at Cannes and her last film, 2016’s The Apple of My Eye competed in Locarno.…...
For her fourth feature, writer/director Axelle Ropert will unleash Petite Solange, produced by Charlotte Vincent and lensed by Sebastien Buchmann. As usual, Ropert assembles an interesting cast with Lea Drucker (who won the Best Actress Cesar for Custody in 2019) and Philippe Katerine (who won the Best Supporting Cesar for Sink or Swim in 2019). They are joined by newcomer Jade Springer. Ropert is perhaps still best known for her screenplays of Serge Bozon’s last three films (La France; Tip Top; Mrs. Hyde), but her 2009 feature The Wolberg Family was programmed in Directors’ Fortnight at Cannes and her last film, 2016’s The Apple of My Eye competed in Locarno.…...
- 1/3/2021
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
Alexandra Lamy and Philippe Katerine topline this production staged by 24 25 Films, which is being sold overseas by Charades. The last clapperboard slammed yesterday to mark the end of the shoot for Le Test, the second feature by Emmanuel Poulain-Arnaud, following Les Cobayes (French release date Tbc). After kicking off on 21 September, principal photography for the helmer’s new effort took place in Marseille, Sète, Agde, Frontignan and Montpellier. The cast includes Alexandra Lamy, Philippe Katerine (César Award for Best Supporting Actor in 2019 for Sink or Swim and set to grace screens from 10 February next year in Old Fashioned), and young actors Chloé Barkoff-Gaillard, Matteo Perez and Joaquim Fossi.The story, written by Emmanuel Poulain-Arnaud himself and Noé Debré (nominated for the César Award for Best Screenplay in 2016 for Dheepan and for the equivalent Ensor Award in 2018 for Racer...
Jade Springer, Léa Drucker and Philippe Katerine star in this new Aurora Films production, set to be sold by mk2 Films and coming courtesy of the same director as The Apple of My Eye. Since 26 February, Axelle Ropert has been shooting Petite Solange, her 4th feature film following on from The Wolberg Family (unveiled in Cannes’ Directors’ Fortnight 2009), Miss and the Doctors (2013) and The Apple of my Eye (a Locarno competitor in 2016). Starring in the cast of the film is the young actress Jade Springer, alongside Léa Drucker and Philippe Katerine.Written by the director (who also co-wrote Mrs. Hyde, Tip Top and France by...
Under the new leadership of industry veteran Kristina Zimmermann, Orange Studio, the film/TV division of the French telco group Orange, is launching three new projects at Berlin’s European Film Market: “Last Film Show,” “Old Fashioned” and “Love Song for Tough Guys.”
Directed by Pan Nalin (“Samsara”), “Last Film Show” follows Samay, a 9-year-old boy living with his family in a remote village in India. One day, he discovers films and is instantly mesmerized. Against his father’s wishes, he returns to the cinema day after day and sets off to become a filmmaker at all costs.
“It’s a personal film for Pan Nalin as it’s inspired by his own life, and it has a beautiful cinematography, because Pan Nalin is also a talented photographer,” said Zimmermann, who joined Orange Studio last July after working for nearly three decades at Canal Plus Group. “‘Last Film Show’ is...
Directed by Pan Nalin (“Samsara”), “Last Film Show” follows Samay, a 9-year-old boy living with his family in a remote village in India. One day, he discovers films and is instantly mesmerized. Against his father’s wishes, he returns to the cinema day after day and sets off to become a filmmaker at all costs.
“It’s a personal film for Pan Nalin as it’s inspired by his own life, and it has a beautiful cinematography, because Pan Nalin is also a talented photographer,” said Zimmermann, who joined Orange Studio last July after working for nearly three decades at Canal Plus Group. “‘Last Film Show’ is...
- 2/21/2020
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Paris-based company launches a quartet of auteur titles at the Efm.
Paris-based company mk2 films has boarded sales on Italian director Daniele Luchetti’s The Ties, a portrait of a broken marriage told through the separate perspectives of the wife, husband and children and set against the backdrop of Naples.
Alba Rohrwacher and Luigi Lo Cascio star as the couple in a cast also featuring Laura Morante and Giovanna Mezzogiorno.
Adapted from Italian writer Domenico Starnone’s 2014 novel Lacci, the feature is produced by Beppe Caschetto’s Bologna-based Ibc Movie, the credits of which also include The Traitor and Martin Eden,...
Paris-based company mk2 films has boarded sales on Italian director Daniele Luchetti’s The Ties, a portrait of a broken marriage told through the separate perspectives of the wife, husband and children and set against the backdrop of Naples.
Alba Rohrwacher and Luigi Lo Cascio star as the couple in a cast also featuring Laura Morante and Giovanna Mezzogiorno.
Adapted from Italian writer Domenico Starnone’s 2014 novel Lacci, the feature is produced by Beppe Caschetto’s Bologna-based Ibc Movie, the credits of which also include The Traitor and Martin Eden,...
- 2/20/2020
- by 1100388¦Melanie Goodfellow¦0¦
- ScreenDaily
Showcasing the wide scope and many nuances of French comedies, Oscar-winning director Michel Hazanavicius’s “The Lost Prince,” “Mama Weed” with Isabelle Huppert (pictured), “The Lion” with Dany Boon, and “Welcome to the Jungle” with Catherine Deneuve are having their market premieres at the 22nd edition of the UniFrance Rendez-Vous with French Cinema in Paris, which runs Jan. 16-20.
Sold by Studiocanal, “The Lost Prince” is fantasy-filled family comedy headlined by Omar Sy (“Intouchables), François Damiens (“Heartbreaker”) and Bérénice Bejo (“The Artist”).
“Mama Weed” directed by Jean-Paul Salomé, is a crime comedy starring Huppert, the Oscar-nominated actress, as a French-Arabic translator working for the anti-drug squad in Paris. Le Pacte is handling international sales.
“The Lion” is an action comedy about Romain (Philippe Katerine), a psychologist who is fascinated by his patient, Leo Milan (Boon), who claims to be a highly-trained international spy.
Helmed by Hugo Benamozig and David Caviglioli,...
Sold by Studiocanal, “The Lost Prince” is fantasy-filled family comedy headlined by Omar Sy (“Intouchables), François Damiens (“Heartbreaker”) and Bérénice Bejo (“The Artist”).
“Mama Weed” directed by Jean-Paul Salomé, is a crime comedy starring Huppert, the Oscar-nominated actress, as a French-Arabic translator working for the anti-drug squad in Paris. Le Pacte is handling international sales.
“The Lion” is an action comedy about Romain (Philippe Katerine), a psychologist who is fascinated by his patient, Leo Milan (Boon), who claims to be a highly-trained international spy.
Helmed by Hugo Benamozig and David Caviglioli,...
- 1/17/2020
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
La pièce rapportée
For his third feature, Antonin Peretjatko commences on the comedic La pièce rapportée, produced by Thomas and Mathieu Verhaeghe and recruits an impressive cast with Anaïs Demoustier, Josiane Balasko, Philippe Katerine, William Lebghil and Sergi Lopez. Simon Roca (who lensed Peretjatko’s previous two films as well as F.J. Ossang’s 9 Digits and the upcoming Kandisha for Alexandre Bustillo and Julien Maury) returns as cinematographer. Peretjatko’s 2013 debut The Rendezvous of Deja Vous premiered in Directors’ Fortnight at Cannes and scored a Cesar nod for Best First Feature. His sophomore feature Struggle for Life (2016) was programmed in Locarno and named one of the Best 10 Films of the year by Cahiers du Cinema.…...
For his third feature, Antonin Peretjatko commences on the comedic La pièce rapportée, produced by Thomas and Mathieu Verhaeghe and recruits an impressive cast with Anaïs Demoustier, Josiane Balasko, Philippe Katerine, William Lebghil and Sergi Lopez. Simon Roca (who lensed Peretjatko’s previous two films as well as F.J. Ossang’s 9 Digits and the upcoming Kandisha for Alexandre Bustillo and Julien Maury) returns as cinematographer. Peretjatko’s 2013 debut The Rendezvous of Deja Vous premiered in Directors’ Fortnight at Cannes and scored a Cesar nod for Best First Feature. His sophomore feature Struggle for Life (2016) was programmed in Locarno and named one of the Best 10 Films of the year by Cahiers du Cinema.…...
- 12/30/2019
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
TF1 Studio has scored several pre-sales on Ludovic Colbeau-Justin’s “The Lion,” the anticipated action comedy starring Dany Boon and Philippe Katerine.
Currently in post-production, “The Lion” has been picked up for Canada (Tva films), Spain (Dea Planeta), Benelux (Alternative Films), Switzerland (Pathe Films), Greece (Spentzos Film), Portugal (Nos Lusomundo Audiovisuais), Cis (Top Film), Poland (Monolith), Former Yugoslavia (Blitz Film), Middle East (Italia Films), Morocco (Megarama), South Korea (Cree Pictures), China (Heyday Investments) and for airlines (Skeye).
TF1 Studio, whose international sales team is headed by Sabine Chemaly, will unveil the opening sequence of “The Lion” at the Afm this week and has released the first still (pictured) of the film which will be released in France on Jan. 29. Monkey Pack Films is producing “The Lion.”
The movie follows Romain, a psychologist who is fascinated by his patient, Leo Milan, who claims to be a highly-trained international spy, code-named The Lion.
Currently in post-production, “The Lion” has been picked up for Canada (Tva films), Spain (Dea Planeta), Benelux (Alternative Films), Switzerland (Pathe Films), Greece (Spentzos Film), Portugal (Nos Lusomundo Audiovisuais), Cis (Top Film), Poland (Monolith), Former Yugoslavia (Blitz Film), Middle East (Italia Films), Morocco (Megarama), South Korea (Cree Pictures), China (Heyday Investments) and for airlines (Skeye).
TF1 Studio, whose international sales team is headed by Sabine Chemaly, will unveil the opening sequence of “The Lion” at the Afm this week and has released the first still (pictured) of the film which will be released in France on Jan. 29. Monkey Pack Films is producing “The Lion.”
The movie follows Romain, a psychologist who is fascinated by his patient, Leo Milan, who claims to be a highly-trained international spy, code-named The Lion.
- 11/7/2019
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
The director, revealed with The Rendez-Vous of Déjà-Vu, gathers a cast including Anaïs Demoustier, Philippe Katerine, Josiane Balasko, William Lebghil and Sergi Lopez. Shooting on Antonin Peretjatko’s La pièce rapportée, which began on 25 September, will conclude on 5 November. It is the third feature film from the original and offbeat director after The Rendez-Vous of Déjà-Vu (revealed in Directors’ Fortnight 2013 and nominated for the 2014 Best First Feature César) and Struggle for Life (2016). The cast includes Anaïs Demoustier (currently in French cinemas Alice and the Mayor; on 27 November in Gloria Mundi and in 5 February 2020 in The Girl with a Bracelet), Philippe Katerine (winner of the Best Supporting Actor César award in 2019 for Sink or Swim; in cinemas in February 2020 in The Lion), Josiane Balasko (well-received recently in By the Grace of God; in cinemas on 11 December in Spellbound), William Lebghil (starring...
- 10/25/2019
- Cineuropa - The Best of European Cinema
Today sees Olivier Pairoux begin the shoot for his feature debut, a family adventure flick starring Basile Grunberger, Albane Masson and Yannick Renier. Today sees the start of the six-week shoot for Space Boy, the feature debut by director Olivier Pairoux (whom we have to thank for the Philippe Katerine-starring short film Puzzle), which he co-wrote with Eusebio Larrea. Space Boy is a family adventure film, a fairly unusual proposition in French-language Belgian cinema, and it draws its inspiration from the Us films of this genre that the director was brought up on as a child, such as The Goonies, E.T. and Stand by Me. This movie tinged with nostalgia unfolds in 1986, a time when space exploration was in full swing. An exceptionally gifted dreamer, 11-year-old Jim, lives with his father, Graham, who is destined to become the first British scientist to go into space. But when Jim finds.
French writer/director Axelle Ropert is set to direct “Petite Solange,” a film that will star Léa Drucker and Philippe Katerine, who won the best acting nods at this year’s Cesar Awards for their performances in “Custody” and “Sink or Swim,” respectively.
MK2 films will handle international sales. Haut et Court has acquired rights for French distribution.
Produced by Aurora Films with a budget of 1.5 million euros ($1.675 million), “Petite Solange” follows a vibrant and sentimental 12-year-old girl whose world starts to crack when her parents’ marriage falls apart.
“‘Petite Solange’ is a gentle and tender drama with a much needed point of view; that of a young girl surrounded by love but also caught in her parents’ break up, and the impact of their divorce on her own search for love,” said Juliette Schrameck, managing director at MK2 films. “Petite Solange” is set for delivery in 2020.
Ropert, who is...
MK2 films will handle international sales. Haut et Court has acquired rights for French distribution.
Produced by Aurora Films with a budget of 1.5 million euros ($1.675 million), “Petite Solange” follows a vibrant and sentimental 12-year-old girl whose world starts to crack when her parents’ marriage falls apart.
“‘Petite Solange’ is a gentle and tender drama with a much needed point of view; that of a young girl surrounded by love but also caught in her parents’ break up, and the impact of their divorce on her own search for love,” said Juliette Schrameck, managing director at MK2 films. “Petite Solange” is set for delivery in 2020.
Ropert, who is...
- 5/19/2019
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Tim Roth, who stars in Quentin Tarantino’s “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” has joined the cast of Mia Hansen-Love’s English-language debut, “Bergman Island,” a supernatural melodrama with Vicky Krieps and Mia Wasikowska.
Charles Gillibert’s CG Cinema is producing “Bergman Island.” Gillibert previously collaborated with Hansen-Love on “Eden,” which played at Toronto.
Sold by Kinology, “Bergman Island” follows a couple of American filmmakers who travel to the Swedish island of Faro, where filmmaking icon Ingmar Bergman lived, to write their respective films. The two get lost between fiction and reality amid the island’s mysterious landscapes.
Now considered one of France’s most successful production companies, CG Cinema is about to increase its scope, launching new collaborations with established and promising directors across the world, such as France’s Alain Guiraudie (“Stranger by the Lake”) and Amandine Gay, Thailand’s Phuttiphong Aroonpheng and China’s Qiu Cheng.
Charles Gillibert’s CG Cinema is producing “Bergman Island.” Gillibert previously collaborated with Hansen-Love on “Eden,” which played at Toronto.
Sold by Kinology, “Bergman Island” follows a couple of American filmmakers who travel to the Swedish island of Faro, where filmmaking icon Ingmar Bergman lived, to write their respective films. The two get lost between fiction and reality amid the island’s mysterious landscapes.
Now considered one of France’s most successful production companies, CG Cinema is about to increase its scope, launching new collaborations with established and promising directors across the world, such as France’s Alain Guiraudie (“Stranger by the Lake”) and Amandine Gay, Thailand’s Phuttiphong Aroonpheng and China’s Qiu Cheng.
- 5/15/2019
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
"We're in too much trouble, let's call your mum." Studiocanal UK has debuted an official UK trailer for the French crime comedy The World Is Yours, originally released under the title Le monde est à toi (which translates to the same) in France last year. It premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in Directors' Fortnight last summer, and earned some rave reviews (read mine here). The World Is Yours is a fun crime comedy / thriller about a former drug dealer who has to get back in the business one more time to get his life back on track. The film stars Karim Leklou, Vincent Cassel, Isabelle Adjani, Oulaya Amamra, Philippe Katerine, François Damiens, and Norbert Ferrer. Featuring a score by Jamie Xx and SebastiAn. This is a fantastic French crime film, and it's definitely worth discovering whenever you have a chance to catch it. Here's the official UK trailer (+ French...
- 4/11/2019
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Domestic violence drama earns four prizes in Paris.
Xavier Legrand’s domestic violence drama Custody (Jusqu’à La Garde) was named best film at the 44th Cesar Awards in Paris on Friday (23).
Legrand’s feature directorial debut and Venice 2017 Silver Lion winner began the night on a field-leading 10 nominations alongside Gilles Lellouche’s comedy Sink Or Swim (Le Grand Bain), and also won awards for Legrand’s original screenplay, best actress Lea Drucker, and editor Yorgos Lamprinos.
Jacques Audiard was named best director for The Sisters Brothers at the ceremony in the Salle Pleyel, presided over by Kristin Scott Thomas.
Xavier Legrand’s domestic violence drama Custody (Jusqu’à La Garde) was named best film at the 44th Cesar Awards in Paris on Friday (23).
Legrand’s feature directorial debut and Venice 2017 Silver Lion winner began the night on a field-leading 10 nominations alongside Gilles Lellouche’s comedy Sink Or Swim (Le Grand Bain), and also won awards for Legrand’s original screenplay, best actress Lea Drucker, and editor Yorgos Lamprinos.
Jacques Audiard was named best director for The Sisters Brothers at the ceremony in the Salle Pleyel, presided over by Kristin Scott Thomas.
- 2/23/2019
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- ScreenDaily
Xavier Legrand’s feature debut “Custody,” a tense portrait of a family torn by domestic violence, won best film, actress (for Lea Drucker), and original screenplay at the 44th Cesar Awards, which took place at the Salle Pleyel in Paris. The awards are France’s highest film honors.
“Custody,” which marks Legrand’s follow up to his Oscar-nominated short, tells the story of a boy named Julien (Thomas Gioria), who is forced by a court ruling to split his time between his mother (Drucker) and estranged father (Denis Ménochet), whom he regards as a violent monster, amid his parents’ bitter divorce. “Custody” world-premiered in competition at the Venice Film Festival, where it won two awards, and went on to play at Toronto in the competitive Platform section.
In her speech, Drucker paid homage to all the brave women who have inspired her and also dedicated the award to women who...
“Custody,” which marks Legrand’s follow up to his Oscar-nominated short, tells the story of a boy named Julien (Thomas Gioria), who is forced by a court ruling to split his time between his mother (Drucker) and estranged father (Denis Ménochet), whom he regards as a violent monster, amid his parents’ bitter divorce. “Custody” world-premiered in competition at the Venice Film Festival, where it won two awards, and went on to play at Toronto in the competitive Platform section.
In her speech, Drucker paid homage to all the brave women who have inspired her and also dedicated the award to women who...
- 2/22/2019
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
TF1 Studio has picked up Ludovic Colbeau-Justin’s “The Lion,” a high-concept action comedy starring Dany Boon (“Welcome to the Ch’tis”) and Philippe Katerine (“Sink or Swim”).
Set to start shooting next week, the movie follows Romain, a psychologist who is fascinated by his patient, Leo Milan, who claims to be a highly-trained international spy, code-named The Lion. When Romain’s fiancée is kidnapped, just as The Lion predicted, Romain realizes that Leo is the only one who seems to know what’s going on and the only one who has the skills to rescue her. Desperate, Romain embarks on a frantic chase across Paris with The Lion to rescue Louise and protect France’s central bank from the heist of the century.
The movie will be lensing in Paris and in Dubai for a few days. Monkey Pack Films is producing the film. TF1 Studio is representing the...
Set to start shooting next week, the movie follows Romain, a psychologist who is fascinated by his patient, Leo Milan, who claims to be a highly-trained international spy, code-named The Lion. When Romain’s fiancée is kidnapped, just as The Lion predicted, Romain realizes that Leo is the only one who seems to know what’s going on and the only one who has the skills to rescue her. Desperate, Romain embarks on a frantic chase across Paris with The Lion to rescue Louise and protect France’s central bank from the heist of the century.
The movie will be lensing in Paris and in Dubai for a few days. Monkey Pack Films is producing the film. TF1 Studio is representing the...
- 2/7/2019
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
France’s Académie des Arts et Techniques du Cinéma unveiled its nominations for the César Awards this morning in Paris. The races for the country’s Oscar equivalent are led by Xavier Legrand’s feature debut Jusqu’à La Garde (Custody) and Gilles Lellouche’s Le Grand Bain (Sink Or Swim) with 10 mentions each. They are followed by Jacques Audiard’s English-language western, The Sisters Brothers, and Pierre Salvadori’s En Liberté! (The Trouble With You) with nine a piece. All four are in the Best Picture and Director categories.
There’s a noticeably lighter edge to the nominations this year with Le Grand Bain a sort of Full Monty à la française that sees a group of middle-aged men form a synchronized swimming team. The movie debuted out of competition in Cannes and became the 3rd highest grossing local title of 2018 with over 5M tickets sold.
Also out of Cannes,...
There’s a noticeably lighter edge to the nominations this year with Le Grand Bain a sort of Full Monty à la française that sees a group of middle-aged men form a synchronized swimming team. The movie debuted out of competition in Cannes and became the 3rd highest grossing local title of 2018 with over 5M tickets sold.
Also out of Cannes,...
- 1/23/2019
- by Nancy Tartaglione
- Deadline Film + TV
French actor-turned-director Gilles Lellouche’s “Sink or Swim” and Xavier Legrand’s feature debut “Custody” lead the race for this year’s Cesar Awards, France’s equivalent of the Oscars, with 10 nominations each, including best picture and best director.
“Sink or Swim” (“Le Grand Bain” in France), a star-driven dramedy about a men’s synchronized swimming team, world-premiered at Cannes out of competition and was released by Studiocanal. The ensemble film, which was one of the highest-grossing French films in 2018, picked up multiple nominations in the best supporting actor and actress categories, for Jean-Hugues Anglade, Philippe Katerine, Leila Bekhti and Virginie Efira.
“Custody” follows a boy named Julien (Thomas Gioria), who is forced by a court ruling to split his time between his mother (Léa Drucker) and estranged father (Denis Ménochet), whom he regards as a violent monster, amid his parents’ bitter divorce. “Custody” world-premiered in competition at the Venice Film Festival,...
“Sink or Swim” (“Le Grand Bain” in France), a star-driven dramedy about a men’s synchronized swimming team, world-premiered at Cannes out of competition and was released by Studiocanal. The ensemble film, which was one of the highest-grossing French films in 2018, picked up multiple nominations in the best supporting actor and actress categories, for Jean-Hugues Anglade, Philippe Katerine, Leila Bekhti and Virginie Efira.
“Custody” follows a boy named Julien (Thomas Gioria), who is forced by a court ruling to split his time between his mother (Léa Drucker) and estranged father (Denis Ménochet), whom he regards as a violent monster, amid his parents’ bitter divorce. “Custody” world-premiered in competition at the Venice Film Festival,...
- 1/23/2019
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Notre Dame
French director Valérie Donzelli makes her fifth feature with Notre Dame, in which she will star in and produce herself, alongside Mina Driouch for Les Films de Francoise, Alice Girard and Eduoard Weil for Rectangle Productions, Genevieve Lemal for Scope Pictures (Belgium) and France 2 Cinema. Amongst her cast members are Pierre Deladonchamps, Thomas Scimeca, Bouli Lanners, Virginie Ledoyen, Isabelle Candelier and Philippe Katerine. Donzelli’s effervescent debut, Queen of Hearts (2009) played at Locarno, while her 2011 sophomore film Declaration of War became a huge hit after premiering in Critics’ Week at Cannes, going on to snag a handful of Cesar nods plus earning the distinction of being France’s submission for the Best Foreign Language Film for Academy Award consideration.…...
French director Valérie Donzelli makes her fifth feature with Notre Dame, in which she will star in and produce herself, alongside Mina Driouch for Les Films de Francoise, Alice Girard and Eduoard Weil for Rectangle Productions, Genevieve Lemal for Scope Pictures (Belgium) and France 2 Cinema. Amongst her cast members are Pierre Deladonchamps, Thomas Scimeca, Bouli Lanners, Virginie Ledoyen, Isabelle Candelier and Philippe Katerine. Donzelli’s effervescent debut, Queen of Hearts (2009) played at Locarno, while her 2011 sophomore film Declaration of War became a huge hit after premiering in Critics’ Week at Cannes, going on to snag a handful of Cesar nods plus earning the distinction of being France’s submission for the Best Foreign Language Film for Academy Award consideration.…...
- 1/3/2019
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
The swimming is synchronized in “Sink or Swim,” and so is the scripting: Gilles Lellouche’s feelgood buddy comedy so painstakingly mimics the rhythms and motions of assorted men-in-quirky-crisis farces from across the Channel that it may as well have been titled “The Pool Monty.” Gathering an A-team of French thesps to play a decidedly less well-qualified squad of million-dollar mermen, this story of disenfranchised middle-aged schmoes who decide — for reasons barely clear to them, much less the viewer — to find renewed purpose in water ballet is as harmless as it is silly, but dampened by idle gags, empty characterization and an inordinate two-hour runtime. The reliably charismatic work of its players, notably ringleader Mathieu Amalric, keeps this somewhat soggy macaron diverting, but it’s hard to see audiences showing much interest outside France, where it should do, well, swimmingly.
A chirpily commercial enterprise through and through, “Sink or Swim...
A chirpily commercial enterprise through and through, “Sink or Swim...
- 5/23/2018
- by Guy Lodge
- Variety Film + TV
Chilean filmmaker Sebastián Lelio is wasting no time getting his next project into theaters — or at least distributor Bleecker Street isn’t. Just over a month after his last film, A Fantastic Woman, took the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film, his latest, Disobedience with Rachel McAdams and Rachel Weisz rolls into theaters, only days after its Tribeca Film Festival bow. The film joins a pretty packed lineup of new Specialties that will go head to head with Disney’s sure-fire Avengers installment. Sundance Selects is rolling out French filmmaker Claire Denis’ Let the Sunshine In with Juliette Binoche, one of a few foreign-language offerings this weekend including Grasshopper Films’ drama Ava by Sadaf Foroughi. Shout! Studios is opening The House of Tomorrow by Peter Livolsi with Asa Butterfield, Nick Offerman and Ellen Burstyn in several markets, while Cleopatra Films is opening Daniel Jerome Gill’s music-romance, Modern Life is Rubbish.
- 4/26/2018
- by Brian Brooks
- Deadline Film + TV
Get your first look at one of the films premiering at the Cannes Film Festival. The World Is Yours, or Le monde ou rien in French, is the next film from French director Romain Gavras (Our Day Will Come) and it was just announced as one of the films in the official selection for the Directors' Fortnight sidebar at Cannes. The World Is Yours is a crime comedy/thriller about a former drug dealer who has to get back in the business one more time to get his plans back on track. The cast includes Karim Leklou, Vincent Cassel, Isabelle Adjani, François Damiens, Oulaya Amamra, Philippe Katerine, Michael John Treanor, and Norbert Ferrer. Featuring a score by Jamie Xx and SebastiAn. This teaser trailer doesn't reveal too much but the footage we do see in this is quite wild. I'm curious to find out what this is all about. Here's...
- 4/17/2018
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
"If I were you, I wouldn't torture myself." Sundance Selects + IFC Films have released an official Us trailer for the latest film from French filmmaker extraordinaire Claire Denis, titled Let the Sunshine In, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival last year. Also titled Un beau soleil intérieur in French, the film stars Juliette Binoche as a middle aged, confident French woman dealing with a variety of unsuitable suitors in this romantic comedy. She meets a number of different men, each who have their own perks and quirks, and downsides as she figures out what romance means to her at this point in her life. The cast includes Xavier Beauvois, Philippe Katerine, Josiane Balasko, Sandrine Dumas, Nicolas Duvauchelle, and Alex Descas. This is a fun film with some fine French humor, but definitely not one of Claire Denis' best. Enjoy. Here's the official Us trailer (+ French poster) for Claire Denis' Let the Sunshine In,...
- 2/23/2018
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Whether you translate its title as “Let the Sunshine In” or “Bright Sunshine In,” the new Claire Denis movie remains an exciting prospect for the simple fact that, well, it’s the new Claire Denis movie. Juliette Binoche stars in the romantic comedy, marking the first collaboration between the two icons of French cinema; their work first saw the light of day at Cannes, where it opened the Directors’ Fortnight program. Watch the trailer below.
Here’s the synopsis: “Isabelle (Binoche) is a divorced Parisian painter searching for another shot at love, but refusing to settle for the parade of all-too-flawed men who drift in and out of her life. There’s a caddish banker (Xavier Beauvois) who, like many of her lovers, happens to be married; a handsome actor (Nicolas Duvauchelle) who’s working through his own hang-ups; and a sensitive fellow artist (Alex Descas) who’s skittish about commitment.
Here’s the synopsis: “Isabelle (Binoche) is a divorced Parisian painter searching for another shot at love, but refusing to settle for the parade of all-too-flawed men who drift in and out of her life. There’s a caddish banker (Xavier Beauvois) who, like many of her lovers, happens to be married; a handsome actor (Nicolas Duvauchelle) who’s working through his own hang-ups; and a sensitive fellow artist (Alex Descas) who’s skittish about commitment.
- 2/23/2018
- by Michael Nordine
- Indiewire
Sundance Selects, the division of IFC Films known for distributing critically acclaimed foreign-language films, has acquired the North American rights to Claire Denis’ “Let the Sunshine In,” Variety reports. The dramedy screened in the Cannes Film Festival’s Director’s Fortnight sidebar and follows a single mom and divorced artist named Isabelle (Juliete Binoche) who is looking for love.
Cannes: Bong Joon Ho’s ‘Okja’ Booed During Technical Glitch and Netflix Logo at First Press Screening
Written by Denis and Christine Angot, “Let the Sunshine In” co-stars Gérard Depardieu, Xavier Beauvois, Josiane Balasko, Philippe Katerine and Nicolas Duvauchelle.
“We absolutely loved Claire’s touching and funny take on finding love and are thrilled to be back in business with her, Juliette Binoche and our friends at Film Distribution,” IFC Films/Sundance Selects co-presidents Jonathan Sehring and Lisa Schwartz said in a statement.
Cannes: Neon and Vice Buy U.S. Rights...
Cannes: Bong Joon Ho’s ‘Okja’ Booed During Technical Glitch and Netflix Logo at First Press Screening
Written by Denis and Christine Angot, “Let the Sunshine In” co-stars Gérard Depardieu, Xavier Beauvois, Josiane Balasko, Philippe Katerine and Nicolas Duvauchelle.
“We absolutely loved Claire’s touching and funny take on finding love and are thrilled to be back in business with her, Juliette Binoche and our friends at Film Distribution,” IFC Films/Sundance Selects co-presidents Jonathan Sehring and Lisa Schwartz said in a statement.
Cannes: Neon and Vice Buy U.S. Rights...
- 5/19/2017
- by Graham Winfrey
- Indiewire
An invention, the tangible result from an idea constructed in the human imagination, represents a piece in the puzzle that is the course of progress whether it means advancement through bellic endeavors, the simplification of tasks, or the preservation of life. Modern civilization is the result of a sequence of inventions and discoveries that evolved through the efforts of tireless men and woman dedicated to science and technology; however, as it’s always the case, mankind has been know to use its most creative minds for selfish and power-hungry pursuits.
Setting these concepts and preoccupations in an alternative steampunk reality based on the graphic novel by Jacques Tardi, Christian Desmares and Franck Ekinci’s “April and the Extraordinary World” navigates the curious possibility of a world where innovation stalled and in which humans must deal with the ramifications of this occurrence and adapt their lifestyles to the available practices. What emerges from this concoction of brilliant notions inspired by the source material and the filmmakers’ input is a highly ingenious and sumptuously designed tale anchored to an assertive, intellectual, and unconventional heroine. This delightfully sophisticated charmer firmly establishes itself as a visual marvel and one of the most originally confected animated films ever made.
Distancing its premise from similarly themed science fiction escapades, which work under the pretense that audiences must accept the universe at hand without much insight into its inner workings and origins, the film commences with a brief introduction that singles out a historical event responsible for the retrograde state of development. In this whimsical revision set in the mid-1900s Napoleon's lineage still reigns, as a major conflict with France's major enemy to the east was avoided. The consequential outcome for this deviation is a world in which coal, rather than oil, becomes the preferred fuel leading to massive deforestation and smog substitutes air. Scientists are perceived as a commodity whose brilliance must benefit the empire in its pursuit of new lands with forests to harvest. Fighting a war with the Us over Canada’s natural resources to fulfill its power needs is France’s priority while another threat develops under its surface.
Academically gifted an empowered by an audacious spirit, April (Marion Cotillard) is a young woman whose perpetual mission is to find her parents, Paul (Olivier Gourmet) and Annette (Macha Grenon), and grandfather Pops (Jean Rochefort), all of whom are scientist that disappeared 10 years prior under mysterious circumstances after being persecuted by the authorities just as they were about to test a serum that would make any living creature immortal. Now, April, whose chemistry knowledge is unparalleled, is attempting to recreate said formula and reunite with her singular pack.
Given that her venture and those of her immediate family have such immeasurable stakes, there are a few less than friendly figures seeking to capture her. Pizoni (Bouli Lanners), a robust, arrogant, and insanely persistent officer, wishes to use her as a vehicle for discovering where Pops is. Enlisting Julius (Marc-André Grondin), a scrawny young man willing to do the dirty work to avoid punishment for his deeds, to follow her, Pizoni hopes to regain the status he lost because of April’s folks. Thankfully, the brave girl has her talking cat Darwin (Philippe Katerine) as her most valuable comrade. Talking animals have never been so unforgettably enchanting and comically joyful as April's pet. Romantic and irreverent, Darwin is a scene-stealer that keeps one grinning continuously due to his amusingly tongue-in-cheek one-liners.
An array of characters like this pair with astoundingly intelligent writing makes for a framework that is taken to its greatest possible potential for wonder via the gorgeously crafted animation in display. Add a large portion of explosively candid humor to the mix, and the formula for a perfect work of wondrous art is created. From Einstein playing in a band, to a visual gag on what the Statue of Liberty would like if France wouldn’t have been friendly towards Americans, to its mesmerizing reimagining of Paris with two Eiffel Towers and uniquely appropriate public transport and infrastructure, “April” grabs hold of cell animation and dips it in a potion distilled from the works of iconic Japanese masters and considerable influence from other successful graphic novel adaptations into the medium.
Its genre-bending aspects are so fabulously calibrated, that is hard to pinpoint an exact designation for the spell the film casts other than how deliciously twisty it is. Near its final act, “April” introduces a group of villains directly extracted from a deranged fable, in the most authentically surprising manner. This coincides with the sensibilities of a film that isn’t afraid to fully experiment with the freedoms that fiction in this vein permits. Desmaeres and Ekinci’s leading lady, voiced with grace and chutzpah by Academy Award-winner Marion Cotillard, comes from a long line of male scientists, but though the fact that she is the first female born in the family to also pursue the field, her gender is never observed as an impediment or particularly special trait. It’s never about whether she can do it not based on her being a woman, but about how her unquestionable abilities can be used for good. When so much of current media glorifies instant fame or content about exploiting physical beauty for financial gain, to see an intrepid role model focused on the significance of using one’s hard work for the greater good utterly reinvigorating.
Power corrupts, especially in the hands of temperamental beings, and that’s a crucial point that “April” tackles from a thoroughly enjoyable perspective. Since selfish pursuits are common occurrences in our past and present, it’s clear humanity can’t be trusted with its own treasures. Therefore, erudite thinkers are recruited as pawns in a new intergalactic plan to save Earth’s beautiful vegetation. The uncompromising ambition of the film’s scope is as captivating as the detailed cinematic frames that convey it, and in that sense, the exuberant journey it follows from its opening sequence to the riveting conclusion feels like a natural progression. Not a single contrived or even lightly forced plot point in sight.
As the pages reminiscent of comic books from a much more artistically driven bygone era grace the screen in their moving iteration, “April and the Extraordinary World” transcends the constraints of steampunk literature and embraces traditional animation is if the two had been in perfect symmetry from the beginning. What “April” argues underneath the aesthetically extraordinary frames and its thrilling action is that science is magic at human reach, which takes our perseverance and purpose as a metaphorical wand. Choosing to use each newly found incantation for benevolent causes and not malevolent desires is the real battle.
"April and the Extraordinary World" is now playing in New York and Los Angeles. The film is being released by Gkids, the 8-time Academy nominated independent animation distributor.
Setting these concepts and preoccupations in an alternative steampunk reality based on the graphic novel by Jacques Tardi, Christian Desmares and Franck Ekinci’s “April and the Extraordinary World” navigates the curious possibility of a world where innovation stalled and in which humans must deal with the ramifications of this occurrence and adapt their lifestyles to the available practices. What emerges from this concoction of brilliant notions inspired by the source material and the filmmakers’ input is a highly ingenious and sumptuously designed tale anchored to an assertive, intellectual, and unconventional heroine. This delightfully sophisticated charmer firmly establishes itself as a visual marvel and one of the most originally confected animated films ever made.
Distancing its premise from similarly themed science fiction escapades, which work under the pretense that audiences must accept the universe at hand without much insight into its inner workings and origins, the film commences with a brief introduction that singles out a historical event responsible for the retrograde state of development. In this whimsical revision set in the mid-1900s Napoleon's lineage still reigns, as a major conflict with France's major enemy to the east was avoided. The consequential outcome for this deviation is a world in which coal, rather than oil, becomes the preferred fuel leading to massive deforestation and smog substitutes air. Scientists are perceived as a commodity whose brilliance must benefit the empire in its pursuit of new lands with forests to harvest. Fighting a war with the Us over Canada’s natural resources to fulfill its power needs is France’s priority while another threat develops under its surface.
Academically gifted an empowered by an audacious spirit, April (Marion Cotillard) is a young woman whose perpetual mission is to find her parents, Paul (Olivier Gourmet) and Annette (Macha Grenon), and grandfather Pops (Jean Rochefort), all of whom are scientist that disappeared 10 years prior under mysterious circumstances after being persecuted by the authorities just as they were about to test a serum that would make any living creature immortal. Now, April, whose chemistry knowledge is unparalleled, is attempting to recreate said formula and reunite with her singular pack.
Given that her venture and those of her immediate family have such immeasurable stakes, there are a few less than friendly figures seeking to capture her. Pizoni (Bouli Lanners), a robust, arrogant, and insanely persistent officer, wishes to use her as a vehicle for discovering where Pops is. Enlisting Julius (Marc-André Grondin), a scrawny young man willing to do the dirty work to avoid punishment for his deeds, to follow her, Pizoni hopes to regain the status he lost because of April’s folks. Thankfully, the brave girl has her talking cat Darwin (Philippe Katerine) as her most valuable comrade. Talking animals have never been so unforgettably enchanting and comically joyful as April's pet. Romantic and irreverent, Darwin is a scene-stealer that keeps one grinning continuously due to his amusingly tongue-in-cheek one-liners.
An array of characters like this pair with astoundingly intelligent writing makes for a framework that is taken to its greatest possible potential for wonder via the gorgeously crafted animation in display. Add a large portion of explosively candid humor to the mix, and the formula for a perfect work of wondrous art is created. From Einstein playing in a band, to a visual gag on what the Statue of Liberty would like if France wouldn’t have been friendly towards Americans, to its mesmerizing reimagining of Paris with two Eiffel Towers and uniquely appropriate public transport and infrastructure, “April” grabs hold of cell animation and dips it in a potion distilled from the works of iconic Japanese masters and considerable influence from other successful graphic novel adaptations into the medium.
Its genre-bending aspects are so fabulously calibrated, that is hard to pinpoint an exact designation for the spell the film casts other than how deliciously twisty it is. Near its final act, “April” introduces a group of villains directly extracted from a deranged fable, in the most authentically surprising manner. This coincides with the sensibilities of a film that isn’t afraid to fully experiment with the freedoms that fiction in this vein permits. Desmaeres and Ekinci’s leading lady, voiced with grace and chutzpah by Academy Award-winner Marion Cotillard, comes from a long line of male scientists, but though the fact that she is the first female born in the family to also pursue the field, her gender is never observed as an impediment or particularly special trait. It’s never about whether she can do it not based on her being a woman, but about how her unquestionable abilities can be used for good. When so much of current media glorifies instant fame or content about exploiting physical beauty for financial gain, to see an intrepid role model focused on the significance of using one’s hard work for the greater good utterly reinvigorating.
Power corrupts, especially in the hands of temperamental beings, and that’s a crucial point that “April” tackles from a thoroughly enjoyable perspective. Since selfish pursuits are common occurrences in our past and present, it’s clear humanity can’t be trusted with its own treasures. Therefore, erudite thinkers are recruited as pawns in a new intergalactic plan to save Earth’s beautiful vegetation. The uncompromising ambition of the film’s scope is as captivating as the detailed cinematic frames that convey it, and in that sense, the exuberant journey it follows from its opening sequence to the riveting conclusion feels like a natural progression. Not a single contrived or even lightly forced plot point in sight.
As the pages reminiscent of comic books from a much more artistically driven bygone era grace the screen in their moving iteration, “April and the Extraordinary World” transcends the constraints of steampunk literature and embraces traditional animation is if the two had been in perfect symmetry from the beginning. What “April” argues underneath the aesthetically extraordinary frames and its thrilling action is that science is magic at human reach, which takes our perseverance and purpose as a metaphorical wand. Choosing to use each newly found incantation for benevolent causes and not malevolent desires is the real battle.
"April and the Extraordinary World" is now playing in New York and Los Angeles. The film is being released by Gkids, the 8-time Academy nominated independent animation distributor.
- 3/25/2016
- by Carlos Aguilar
- Sydney's Buzz
Most writing on Christian Desmares and Franck Ekinci‘s April and the Extraordinary World speaks as though they’ve adapted one of revered Frenchman Jacques Tardi‘s graphic novels. This isn’t quite the case. What they’ve actually done is bring his unique “universe” to life with help from previous collaborator Benjamin Legrand (writer of Tardi’s Tueur de cafards) instead. Legrand and Ekinci crafted this alternate steampunk version of Paris as something inspired by the artist’s work rather than born from it. Tardi in turn helped by drawing original work later brought to life by Desmares’ animation team. The whole is therefore a culmination of its six-year production schedule populated by multiple creative minds working in tandem throughout. It may look familiar, but it’s very much brand new.
Their world is built on steam and coal because the best scientific minds have disappeared. Electricity wasn’t...
Their world is built on steam and coal because the best scientific minds have disappeared. Electricity wasn’t...
- 3/24/2016
- by Jared Mobarak
- The Film Stage
See an exclusive Gainsbourg clip with Brigitte Bardot (Laetitia Casta) and Serga (Eric Elmosnino) talking on the phone. Joann Sfar directs the drama and adapts the script based on the graphic novel of the same title. Also in the cast of Gainsbourg: A Heroic Life are Anna Mouglalis, Mylene Jampanoi, Philippe Katerine and Juliette Greco. Pic is now in theaters and is a completely original take on one of France’s greatest mavericks, the illustrious and infamous Jewish singer-songwriter, Serge Gainsbourg (Eric Elmosnino). Born Lucien Ginsburg to Russian-Jewish parents, Sfar follows him from his precocious childhood in Nazi-occupied Paris, to his beginnings as small time jazz musician and finally pop superstar.
- 9/1/2011
- Upcoming-Movies.com
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