Paris and Los Angeles-based sales agency has boarded films by Nicolas Benamou, Artus and Christophe Duthuron
Paris and Los Angeles-based Other Angle Pictures has boarded three French comedy dramas: Nicolas Benamou’s We Should Have Gone to Greece, Artus’ A Little Something Extra and Christophe Duthuron’s Happiness Therapy.
The company will launch sales for all three films at this week’s Unifrance’s Rendez-Vous in Paris in the French capital.
We Should Have Gone to Greece is the latest feature from Benamou, known for co-directing local and international hit comedies Babysitting and Babysitting 2 with Philippe Lacheau, 2020’s Mystery in St. Tropez,...
Paris and Los Angeles-based Other Angle Pictures has boarded three French comedy dramas: Nicolas Benamou’s We Should Have Gone to Greece, Artus’ A Little Something Extra and Christophe Duthuron’s Happiness Therapy.
The company will launch sales for all three films at this week’s Unifrance’s Rendez-Vous in Paris in the French capital.
We Should Have Gone to Greece is the latest feature from Benamou, known for co-directing local and international hit comedies Babysitting and Babysitting 2 with Philippe Lacheau, 2020’s Mystery in St. Tropez,...
- 1/16/2024
- by Rebecca Leffler
- ScreenDaily
The brother and sister in Arnaud Desplechin’s “Brother and Sister” can’t stand each other. The sister, played by Marion Cotillard, is Alice, a theatre superstar playing to packed houses in an adaptation of James Joyce’s “The Dead.” The brother, played by Melvil Poupaud, is Louis, an award-winning author and poet.
Alice resented it when his fame briefly overtook hers, but there is more to their mutual loathing than that. For mysterious, complicated reasons, they haven’t spoken in 20 years, and when they talk about each other to other people, Alice smiles a smile of pure venom, and Louis explodes in vicious rage. What are they to do, then, when Louis has to return to his hometown of Lille to visit his dying parents? Will he and Alice be forced to confront each other at long last?
It’s a juicy premise, but Desplechin and his co-writer, Julie Peyr,...
Alice resented it when his fame briefly overtook hers, but there is more to their mutual loathing than that. For mysterious, complicated reasons, they haven’t spoken in 20 years, and when they talk about each other to other people, Alice smiles a smile of pure venom, and Louis explodes in vicious rage. What are they to do, then, when Louis has to return to his hometown of Lille to visit his dying parents? Will he and Alice be forced to confront each other at long last?
It’s a juicy premise, but Desplechin and his co-writer, Julie Peyr,...
- 5/21/2022
- by Nicholas Barber
- The Wrap
All is not well with the Vuillard clan and something’s gone rotten in Roubaix. While their matriarch lies ill, treading the line between the here and the hereafter, the paterfamilias is left to contend with his three headstrong children. Though the youngest, who lives a stable married life, more often than not serves as ballast between more electric older siblings, sparks fly when the other two meet — or at least they would, had the eldest daughter not banished her hard-drinking middle brother from the family.
Sound familiar? Sounds, perhaps, like another Arnaud Desplechin film that premiered once upon a time in Cannes (as nearly all his films do)? Sounds about right.
Though the French auteur has always freely recycled themes and plot points (with more than half the characters in his 14 features carrying the surnames Dedalus and Vuillard), “Brother and Sister” seems more like a retread (and a retreat...
Sound familiar? Sounds, perhaps, like another Arnaud Desplechin film that premiered once upon a time in Cannes (as nearly all his films do)? Sounds about right.
Though the French auteur has always freely recycled themes and plot points (with more than half the characters in his 14 features carrying the surnames Dedalus and Vuillard), “Brother and Sister” seems more like a retread (and a retreat...
- 5/20/2022
- by Ben Croll
- Indiewire
‘Brother and Sister’ Trailer: Arnaud Desplechin Directs Marion Cotillard in Cannes Competition Title
An Arnaud Desplechin film showing up in the Cannes competition lineup is as expected as the changing seasons. An Arnaud Desplechin film starring two titans of French cinema, Marion Cotillard and Melvil Poupaud? Even more welcome. “Brother and Sister” is among the main competition titles heading to this year’s festival, which runs May 17 through May 28. Ahead of the film community’s big return to the Croisette, watch the first trailer for the film, exclusive to IndieWire, below.
In “Brother and Sister,” or “Frère et Soeur” as it’s known in French, Alice (Cotillard) and Louis (Poupaud) are siblings. She is an actress, while he was a teacher and a poet. For the past two decades, Alice has resented him, and they’ve remained estranged for the last 20 years. That is, until their parents become involved in a serious accident, and they are forced to toss blood under the bridge and reconcile anew.
In “Brother and Sister,” or “Frère et Soeur” as it’s known in French, Alice (Cotillard) and Louis (Poupaud) are siblings. She is an actress, while he was a teacher and a poet. For the past two decades, Alice has resented him, and they’ve remained estranged for the last 20 years. That is, until their parents become involved in a serious accident, and they are forced to toss blood under the bridge and reconcile anew.
- 5/9/2022
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Indiewire
Xenix Film has revealed an official trailer for the French indie drama titled Brother and Sister, originally Frère et Soeur in French. This is premiering at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival later this month playing in the Main Competition, before opening in French cinemas. The story revolves around a brother & sister who are nearing their fifties - Alice is an actress, Louis was a teacher and a poet. They no longer speak to one another and have been avoiding each other for over twenty years, but the death of their parents will force them to cross paths. Melvil Poupaud and Marion Cotillard co-star as the titular brother and sister, with Golshifteh Farahani, Cosmina Stratan, Patrick Timsit, Benjamin Siksou, and Max Baissette de Malglaive. This looks like a very emotional story about a family and the challenging dynamics between two siblings that don't like each other. There's no English subtitles available yet,...
- 5/4/2022
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
The Last Mercenary; In French with English Subtitles Netflix Reviewed for Shockya.com by Abe Friedtanzer Director: David Charhon Writer: David Charhon, Ismaël Sy Savané Cast: Jean-Claude Van Damme, Alban Ivanov, Assa Sylla, Samir Decazza, Patrick Timsit, Eric Judor, Miou-Miou Screened at: Critics’ link, LA, 7/26/21 Opens: July 30th, 2021 (Netflix) There’s an interesting contradiction in […]
The post The Last Mercenary Movie Review appeared first on Shockya.com.
The post The Last Mercenary Movie Review appeared first on Shockya.com.
- 7/30/2021
- by abe
- ShockYa
Everybody’s favorite high-kicking, Belgian action hero, Jean-Claude Van Damme, is back in “The Last Mercenary.” The team behind the throwback action flick was on-hand (virtually) to debut an exclusive sneak peek from the Netflix movie at San Diego Comic-Con.
The new scene was introduced by Van Damme and the film’s writer-director David Charhon at Comic-Con at Home Saturday afternoon.
The clip begins with a hooded man bound to a chair in a dingy room. What the incoming soldiers don't see, however, is Richard (Van Damme), posed in his signature splits on the ceiling. He leaps down and disarms them with unsurprising ease and frees the prisoner. Richard ends up having to wheel the clumsy prisoner out of the building on a gurney before leaping out of a window to complete the rescue mission -- only after punching out some more soldiers for good measure though.
Richard, a former...
The new scene was introduced by Van Damme and the film’s writer-director David Charhon at Comic-Con at Home Saturday afternoon.
The clip begins with a hooded man bound to a chair in a dingy room. What the incoming soldiers don't see, however, is Richard (Van Damme), posed in his signature splits on the ceiling. He leaps down and disarms them with unsurprising ease and frees the prisoner. Richard ends up having to wheel the clumsy prisoner out of the building on a gurney before leaping out of a window to complete the rescue mission -- only after punching out some more soldiers for good measure though.
Richard, a former...
- 7/24/2021
- by Alex Noble
- The Wrap
"Life is one long op." Netflix has launched the first official trailer for a new French action film called The Last Mercenary, aka Le Dernier Mercenaire in French, from filmmaker David Charhon. This new Jcvd action comedy is dropping on Netflix right away at the end of July this summer. A mysterious former secret service known as "La Brume" (or "The Mist") agent must urgently return to France when his estranged son is falsely accused of arms and drug trafficking by the government, following a blunder by an overzealous bureaucrat and a mafia operation. Jean-Claude Van Damme stars as the father who must come back to France and save his son, along with Alban Ivanov, Assa Sylla, Samir Decazza, Patrick Timsit, Eric Judor, and Miou-Miou. Not sure why Jcvd is wearing so many goofy disguises in this, but it looks like some throwaway fun. The only thing that really makes...
- 6/7/2021
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Filming got underway this week in Paris on Alors, On Danse, the French remake of 2017 UK feature Finding Your Feet.
The French update is being directed by veteran French actress, director and comedian Michèle Laroque (Ma Vie En Rose) who will also star alongside well-known French faces Thierry Lhermitte (La Dîner De Cons), Isabelle Nanty (Amelie) and Jean-Hugues Anglade (Betty Blue) as well as Jeanne Balibar (Les Misérables) and Patrick Timsit (Le Cousin).
The film is being produced by Maxime Delauney and Romain Rousseau of Nolita Cinema and is among the first films to start shooting in the capital since the country came out of lockdown. The film’s original producers Meg Leonard, Nick Moorcroft, James Spring, Andrew Berg, John Sachs and Charlotte Walls all serve as executive producers on the film.
The French remake deal was brokered by Fred Films’ James Spring who told us that there are additional...
The French update is being directed by veteran French actress, director and comedian Michèle Laroque (Ma Vie En Rose) who will also star alongside well-known French faces Thierry Lhermitte (La Dîner De Cons), Isabelle Nanty (Amelie) and Jean-Hugues Anglade (Betty Blue) as well as Jeanne Balibar (Les Misérables) and Patrick Timsit (Le Cousin).
The film is being produced by Maxime Delauney and Romain Rousseau of Nolita Cinema and is among the first films to start shooting in the capital since the country came out of lockdown. The film’s original producers Meg Leonard, Nick Moorcroft, James Spring, Andrew Berg, John Sachs and Charlotte Walls all serve as executive producers on the film.
The French remake deal was brokered by Fred Films’ James Spring who told us that there are additional...
- 8/13/2020
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Action star Jean-Claude Van Damme has begun shooting in France for a Netflix action-comedy called “The Last Mercenary,” Netflix announced Friday.
The film is directed by David Charhon and is a French-language film that stars Van Damme as a mysterious former secret service agent who must urgently return to France when his estranged son (Samir Decazza) is falsely accused of arms and drug trafficking by the government, following a blunder by an overzealous bureaucrat (Alban Ivanov) and a mafia operation.
Charhon and Ismaël Sy Savané wrote the film that co-stars Alban Ivanov, Assa Sylla, Samir Decazza, Patrick Timsit, Eric Judor and Miou-Miou, and the film will debut soon on Netflix. “The Last Mercenary” will shoot in France and Ukraine.
Also Read: Naya Rivera to Appear as Judge on Netflix's 'Sugar Rush' Episode Filmed Before Her Death
“The Last Mercenary” is produced by Jean-Charles Levy, Nicolas Manuel (Forecast Pictures), Olivier Albou,...
The film is directed by David Charhon and is a French-language film that stars Van Damme as a mysterious former secret service agent who must urgently return to France when his estranged son (Samir Decazza) is falsely accused of arms and drug trafficking by the government, following a blunder by an overzealous bureaucrat (Alban Ivanov) and a mafia operation.
Charhon and Ismaël Sy Savané wrote the film that co-stars Alban Ivanov, Assa Sylla, Samir Decazza, Patrick Timsit, Eric Judor and Miou-Miou, and the film will debut soon on Netflix. “The Last Mercenary” will shoot in France and Ukraine.
Also Read: Naya Rivera to Appear as Judge on Netflix's 'Sugar Rush' Episode Filmed Before Her Death
“The Last Mercenary” is produced by Jean-Charles Levy, Nicolas Manuel (Forecast Pictures), Olivier Albou,...
- 7/31/2020
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
Netflix is underway in France on Jean-Claude Van Damme action-comedy The Last Mercenary from director David Charhon (The Other Side Of The Tracks).
Also starring in the film are Alban Ivanov, Assa Sylla, Samir Decazza, Patrick Timsit, Eric Judor and Miou-Miou.
Van Damme will play a mysterious former secret service agent who must urgently return to France when his estranged son (Decazza) is falsely accused of arms and drug trafficking by the government, following a blunder by an overzealous bureaucrat (Ivanov) and a mafia operation.
The film is written by David Charhon and Ismaël Sy Savané and produced by Jean-Charles Levy, Nicolas Manuel (Forecast Pictures), Olivier Albou, Laurence Schonberg (Other Angle Pictures), David Charhon, Jakéma Charhon, Eponine Maillet (Mony Films), Olias Barco, Vlad Riashyn (Apple Tree).
Van Damme said: “The Last Mercenary is an incredibly exciting project and allows me to take on a new genre. I’ve always been...
Also starring in the film are Alban Ivanov, Assa Sylla, Samir Decazza, Patrick Timsit, Eric Judor and Miou-Miou.
Van Damme will play a mysterious former secret service agent who must urgently return to France when his estranged son (Decazza) is falsely accused of arms and drug trafficking by the government, following a blunder by an overzealous bureaucrat (Ivanov) and a mafia operation.
The film is written by David Charhon and Ismaël Sy Savané and produced by Jean-Charles Levy, Nicolas Manuel (Forecast Pictures), Olivier Albou, Laurence Schonberg (Other Angle Pictures), David Charhon, Jakéma Charhon, Eponine Maillet (Mony Films), Olias Barco, Vlad Riashyn (Apple Tree).
Van Damme said: “The Last Mercenary is an incredibly exciting project and allows me to take on a new genre. I’ve always been...
- 7/31/2020
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
The Muscles from Brussels has officially booked his first feature with Netflix.
Jean-Claude Van Damme has started shooting The Last Mercenary, David Charhon's action-comedy also starring Alban Ivanov, Assa Sylla, Samir Decazza, Patrick Timsit, Eric Judor and Miou-Miou.
Being shot in France, the film sees Van Damme plays a mysterious former secret service agent who must urgently return to the country when his estranged son (Decazza) is falsely accused of arms and drug trafficking by the government, following a blunder by an overzealous bureaucrat (Ivanov) and a mafia operation.
"The Last Mercenary is an incredibly exciting project and ...
Jean-Claude Van Damme has started shooting The Last Mercenary, David Charhon's action-comedy also starring Alban Ivanov, Assa Sylla, Samir Decazza, Patrick Timsit, Eric Judor and Miou-Miou.
Being shot in France, the film sees Van Damme plays a mysterious former secret service agent who must urgently return to the country when his estranged son (Decazza) is falsely accused of arms and drug trafficking by the government, following a blunder by an overzealous bureaucrat (Ivanov) and a mafia operation.
"The Last Mercenary is an incredibly exciting project and ...
- 7/31/2020
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The Muscles From Brussels has officially booked his first feature with Netflix.
Jean-Claude Van Damme has started shooting The Last Mercenary, David Charhon's action-comedy also starring Alban Ivanov, Assa Sylla, Samir Decazza, Patrick Timsit, Eric Judor and Miou-Miou.
Being shot in France, the film sees Van Damme plays a mysterious former secret service agent who must urgently return to the country when his estranged son (Decazza) is falsely accused of arms and drug trafficking by the government, following a blunder by an overzealous bureaucrat (Ivanov) and a mafia operation.
"The Last Mercenary is an incredibly exciting project and ...
Jean-Claude Van Damme has started shooting The Last Mercenary, David Charhon's action-comedy also starring Alban Ivanov, Assa Sylla, Samir Decazza, Patrick Timsit, Eric Judor and Miou-Miou.
Being shot in France, the film sees Van Damme plays a mysterious former secret service agent who must urgently return to the country when his estranged son (Decazza) is falsely accused of arms and drug trafficking by the government, following a blunder by an overzealous bureaucrat (Ivanov) and a mafia operation.
"The Last Mercenary is an incredibly exciting project and ...
- 7/31/2020
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Netflix/ITV’s hit thriller “Marcella” is set for a French adaptation produced by Elephant and commissioned by TF1. The deal was made by Cineflix Rights which has exclusive worldwide rights to the new series.
Hans Rosenfeldt’s “Marcella” was produced by Buccaneer Media and stars Anna Friel who won an International Emmy Award for her role in the series. Season 3 of “Marcella” is currently available on Netflix and will premiere on ITV in the U.K. the fall.
“Rebecca,” the French adaptation of “Marcella,” will be directed by Didier Le Pêcheur (“Innocents”), and was co-written by Le Pêcheur and Delphine Labouret (“Innocents”). The eight-part series is being produced by Elephant (Gaëlle Cholet and Sandra Ouaiss), and begins shooting this month around Paris.
The paranoid thriller will be headlined by Anne Marivin (“Ce soir je vais tuer l’assassin de mon fils”) in the titular role. Six years after abandoning...
Hans Rosenfeldt’s “Marcella” was produced by Buccaneer Media and stars Anna Friel who won an International Emmy Award for her role in the series. Season 3 of “Marcella” is currently available on Netflix and will premiere on ITV in the U.K. the fall.
“Rebecca,” the French adaptation of “Marcella,” will be directed by Didier Le Pêcheur (“Innocents”), and was co-written by Le Pêcheur and Delphine Labouret (“Innocents”). The eight-part series is being produced by Elephant (Gaëlle Cholet and Sandra Ouaiss), and begins shooting this month around Paris.
The paranoid thriller will be headlined by Anne Marivin (“Ce soir je vais tuer l’assassin de mon fils”) in the titular role. Six years after abandoning...
- 7/27/2020
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Reda Kateb to star as legendary jazz guitarist while Pathé will also launch sales on Marion Cotillard-Guillaume Canet comedy Rock ‘n’ Roll.
Pathé International is set to launch sales on a quartet of new titles in Cannes, led by Guillaume Canet’s mid-life crisis comedy Rock ‘n’ Roll, in which he stars as himself opposite Marion Cotillard as his wife and Django Reinhardt drama Django
“It’s sort of Guillaume Canet and Marion Cotillard playing themselves but not quite. It’s a fantastic concept. It’s sort of based on their real life together but it’s not. It’s very sarcastic, very funny,” says Sauzay of Rock ‘n’ Roll.
Canet stars as Guillaume Canet, a 42-year-old actor who decides to overhaul his life when a beautiful young co-star on a film he is shooting tells him he is no longer ‘rock ‘n’ roll’ or high-up on her list of ‘bangable’ actors.
The actor-director...
Pathé International is set to launch sales on a quartet of new titles in Cannes, led by Guillaume Canet’s mid-life crisis comedy Rock ‘n’ Roll, in which he stars as himself opposite Marion Cotillard as his wife and Django Reinhardt drama Django
“It’s sort of Guillaume Canet and Marion Cotillard playing themselves but not quite. It’s a fantastic concept. It’s sort of based on their real life together but it’s not. It’s very sarcastic, very funny,” says Sauzay of Rock ‘n’ Roll.
Canet stars as Guillaume Canet, a 42-year-old actor who decides to overhaul his life when a beautiful young co-star on a film he is shooting tells him he is no longer ‘rock ‘n’ roll’ or high-up on her list of ‘bangable’ actors.
The actor-director...
- 4/28/2016
- ScreenDaily
Reda Kateb to star as legendary jazz guitarist while Pathe will also continue to sell Marion Cotillard-Guillaume Canet comedy Rock ‘n’ Roll.
Pathé International has boarded sales on Etienne Comar’s upcoming biopic Django Melodies starring French actor Reda Kateb [pictured] as the legendary French jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt.
The feature focuses on Reinhardt’s adventures during World War Two when he tried to flee France to escape persecution by the Nazi because of his Roma ethnicity.
The jazz guitarist – who co-founded the iconic Quintette du Hot Club de France with violinist Stéphane Grappelli in the 1930s - was at the peak of his career when war broke out in 1939, performing regularly in the top clubs of Paris as well as collaborating with Us artists such as Louis Armstrong or Dizzy Gillespie.
It is a directorial debut for Colmar, who is best known as screenwriter on Of Gods And Men and producer on some 20 titles, including...
Pathé International has boarded sales on Etienne Comar’s upcoming biopic Django Melodies starring French actor Reda Kateb [pictured] as the legendary French jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt.
The feature focuses on Reinhardt’s adventures during World War Two when he tried to flee France to escape persecution by the Nazi because of his Roma ethnicity.
The jazz guitarist – who co-founded the iconic Quintette du Hot Club de France with violinist Stéphane Grappelli in the 1930s - was at the peak of his career when war broke out in 1939, performing regularly in the top clubs of Paris as well as collaborating with Us artists such as Louis Armstrong or Dizzy Gillespie.
It is a directorial debut for Colmar, who is best known as screenwriter on Of Gods And Men and producer on some 20 titles, including...
- 4/28/2016
- ScreenDaily
Catherine Deneuve: César Award Besst Actress Record-Tier (photo: Catherine Deneuve in 'In the Courtyard / Dans la cour') (See previous post: "Kristen Stewart and Catherine Deneuve Make César Award History.") Catherine Deneuve has received 12 Best Actress César nominations to date. Deneuve's nods were for the following movies (year of film's release): Pierre Salvadori's In the Courtyard / Dans la Cour (2014). Emmanuelle Bercot's On My Way / Elle s'en va (2013). François Ozon's Potiche (2010). Nicole Garcia's Place Vendôme (1998). André Téchiné's Thieves / Les voleurs (1996). André Téchiné's My Favorite Season / Ma saison préférée (1993). Régis Wargnier's Indochine (1992). François Dupeyron's Strange Place for an Encounter / Drôle d'endroit pour une rencontre (1988). Jean-Pierre Mocky's Agent trouble (1987). André Téchiné's Hotel America / Hôtel des Amériques (1981). François Truffaut's The Last Metro / Le dernier métro (1980). Jean-Paul Rappeneau's Le sauvage (1975). Additionally, Catherine Deneuve was nominated in the Best Supporting Actress category...
- 1/30/2015
- by Steve Montgomery
- Alt Film Guide
Every week, tMF gives you a rundown on who's making the biggest buzz among the current crop of young talents, based on the hottest news about upcoming movies, awards and nominations, magazine covers and interviews, and special appearances on festivals, talk shows and upcoming TV series or just from anything that makes fans more excited about movies! Here's our latest top 3: - - - Grabbing the third spot for the first time is French rising star Gaspard Ulliel. The Buzz: With the anticipation building on his upcoming movie, The Vintner's Luck (http://themovie-fanatic.com/film_focus/indies/vintners_luck/), the young French hearthrob is busy with two other feature movies- Le Premier cercle (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1130993/) (The First Circle), a thriller about a family in organized crime, and is directed and written by Laurent Tuel and stars Ulliel, Jean Reno, Vahina Giocante and Sami Bouajila, and...
- 10/21/2008
- The Movie Fanatic
tMF has been waiting with anticipation to hear news on Gaspard Ulliel's upcoming film The Vintner's Luck - of which we have featured our own spotlight articles (http://themovie-fanatic.com/film_focus/indies/vintners_luck/). Aside from the Niki Caro feature, we would like to mention two new upcoming films for Gaspard. We first reported (http://themovie-fanatic.com/the_buzz!/gaspard_ulliel/gaspard_ulliels_two_new_upcoming_film_projects/) news about these two new projects back in May and just recently discovered a bit more information about them: Here (http://www.allocine.fr/film/galerievignette_gen_cfilm=131771.html). Below is an excerpt from Cineuropa (http://cineuropa.org/newsdetail.aspx?lang=en documentID=84551), describing the films plot: The film focuses on Malakian (Reno), an Armenian gang leader who is as virtuoso as he is violent, and considered a “godfather” on the Côte d’Azur. As he prepares a big operation...
- 10/21/2008
- The Movie Fanatic
PARIS -- French director Francis Veber is back behind the camera with new comedy "A Pain in the Ass", starring Richard Berry and Patrick Timsit, producer TF1 International said Tuesday.
The film is based on the helmer's successful play, which ended its runs in France in 2007 and was first brought to the big screen in 1973 in the Edouard Molinaro film of the same name.
Veber's classic hero Francois Pignon is back in this story about an unlikely friendship that develops between a professional killer and a suicidal screw-up. TF1 is hoping for similar success both at home and abroad for Veber's follow-up to his crowd-pleasing films "The Closet", "The Dinner Game" and "The Valet".
"A Pain in the Ass" is co-produced by Patrice Ledoux's Pulsar Prods. and is set to begin shooting in March. TF1 International will handle worldwide sales and TFM Distribution will release the film in Gaul in December.
The film is based on the helmer's successful play, which ended its runs in France in 2007 and was first brought to the big screen in 1973 in the Edouard Molinaro film of the same name.
Veber's classic hero Francois Pignon is back in this story about an unlikely friendship that develops between a professional killer and a suicidal screw-up. TF1 is hoping for similar success both at home and abroad for Veber's follow-up to his crowd-pleasing films "The Closet", "The Dinner Game" and "The Valet".
"A Pain in the Ass" is co-produced by Patrice Ledoux's Pulsar Prods. and is set to begin shooting in March. TF1 International will handle worldwide sales and TFM Distribution will release the film in Gaul in December.
"Azur & Asmar" is pure magic. Animator Michel Ocelot, whose "Kirikou and the Sorceress" was a huge boxoffice and critical success in France in 1998, has now created an Oriental tale equal to such stories as "Aladdin and His Magic Lamp". He then gives this rousing fantasy-adventure a contemporary point of view by emphasizing the need for brotherhood and understanding among races and religions on both side of the East/West divide. Ocelot claims he never makes children's film because, as he rightly points out, children aren't interested in films designed strictly for them. True to those principles, "Azur & Asmar" blends a highly sophisticated art design with a tale of childlike wonder and innocence that speaks to open-minded humans of any age.
The release of this film in French-speaking territories will be accompanied by an extensive multi-media merchandizing campaign, publication of books and the release of soundtrack CDs and educational interactive materials. Whether the film will penetrate Middle Eastern markets though, given current political conditions, or other non-French speaking markets is hard to say. Certainly Ocelot makes no concessions to the puritanical mind-set of the MPAA's ratings board by including the nipple of a woman nursing two children in the opening scene. One can only hope a distributor will find a way to bring such an emotionally rich and rewarding film to North American audiences.
In medieval Europe, an Arab nursemaid, Jenane (voiced by Hiam Abbass), raises two "sons" on a feudal estate. One is her own Asmar, a dark-haired and dark-eyed boy, and the other is Azur, the blond and blue-eyed son of the master. Eventually, Azur's severe father separates the two brothers before adolescence, contemptuously casting out Asmar and his mother to their fate.
As an adult, Azur (Cyril Mourali) remains haunted by Jenane's tales of her colorful land and of the beautiful, imprisoned Fairy of the Djinns who must be rescued by a prince. He sets sail for this land, gets swept overboard in a storm and washes up on a foul shore whose inhabitants forsake him because of his blue-eyes, the sign of a curse.
Posing as a blind man, Azur allows a thief and fellow immigrant, Crapoux (Patrick Timsit), to guide him to the city, where he recognizes Jenane's voice coming from behind a mansion wall. She is now a wealthy merchant, who welcomes her long-lost son with love. However, Asmar, now a dashing horseman, rejects his foster brother.
Ever rivals, the two brothers set out to free the Fairy of the Djinns. Jenane, who still refuses to play favorites, finances each one equally. Their journeys pit them against bandits and slave traders, each saving the other's life more than once before they penetrate together the Room of Lights, where the Fairy princess awaits her true love.
Based on no particular Arabian tale, Ocelot's story nonetheless merges classical images and stories from North Africa and Persia. Combining 2D and 3D animation, he evokes Oriental architecture -- with its mosaics, formal gardens and repetition of motifs and symmetry -- with brilliantly colored characters.
The chases and fights are exciting but often rendered in profile as in a Mogul drawing. Wondrous creatures put in key appearances such as a Scarlet Lion with blue claws and the Saimourh, a kind of flying peacock that whisks people across vast expanses.
Ocelot doesn't translate the Arabic in subtitles, leaving a western viewer with a sense of dislocation and loss. Underscoring these cultural and linguistic barriers between peoples with different beliefs puts matters into a very modern context. Yet the film delivers its messages about empathy and compassion with the lightest of touches. A musical score from Gabriel Yared adds to the multi-cultural richness by combining musical themes from both sides of the Mediterranean.
AZUR & ASMAR
Diaphana Distribution
Nord-Ouest Production
Credits:
Writer/director/graphic artist: Michel Ocelot
Producer: Christophe Rossignon
Executivbe producer: Eve Machuel
Backgrounds: Anne-Lise Lourdelet-Koehler
Music: Gabriel Yared.
Cast: Azur (adult): Cyril Mourali
Asmar (adult): Karim M'Ribah
Jenane: Hiam Abbass
Crapoux: Patrick Timsit
Princess Chamsous Sabah: Fatma Ben Khell
Azur (child): Rayan Mahjoub
Asmar (child): Abdelsselem Ben Amar
No MPAA rating
Running time -- 99 minutes...
The release of this film in French-speaking territories will be accompanied by an extensive multi-media merchandizing campaign, publication of books and the release of soundtrack CDs and educational interactive materials. Whether the film will penetrate Middle Eastern markets though, given current political conditions, or other non-French speaking markets is hard to say. Certainly Ocelot makes no concessions to the puritanical mind-set of the MPAA's ratings board by including the nipple of a woman nursing two children in the opening scene. One can only hope a distributor will find a way to bring such an emotionally rich and rewarding film to North American audiences.
In medieval Europe, an Arab nursemaid, Jenane (voiced by Hiam Abbass), raises two "sons" on a feudal estate. One is her own Asmar, a dark-haired and dark-eyed boy, and the other is Azur, the blond and blue-eyed son of the master. Eventually, Azur's severe father separates the two brothers before adolescence, contemptuously casting out Asmar and his mother to their fate.
As an adult, Azur (Cyril Mourali) remains haunted by Jenane's tales of her colorful land and of the beautiful, imprisoned Fairy of the Djinns who must be rescued by a prince. He sets sail for this land, gets swept overboard in a storm and washes up on a foul shore whose inhabitants forsake him because of his blue-eyes, the sign of a curse.
Posing as a blind man, Azur allows a thief and fellow immigrant, Crapoux (Patrick Timsit), to guide him to the city, where he recognizes Jenane's voice coming from behind a mansion wall. She is now a wealthy merchant, who welcomes her long-lost son with love. However, Asmar, now a dashing horseman, rejects his foster brother.
Ever rivals, the two brothers set out to free the Fairy of the Djinns. Jenane, who still refuses to play favorites, finances each one equally. Their journeys pit them against bandits and slave traders, each saving the other's life more than once before they penetrate together the Room of Lights, where the Fairy princess awaits her true love.
Based on no particular Arabian tale, Ocelot's story nonetheless merges classical images and stories from North Africa and Persia. Combining 2D and 3D animation, he evokes Oriental architecture -- with its mosaics, formal gardens and repetition of motifs and symmetry -- with brilliantly colored characters.
The chases and fights are exciting but often rendered in profile as in a Mogul drawing. Wondrous creatures put in key appearances such as a Scarlet Lion with blue claws and the Saimourh, a kind of flying peacock that whisks people across vast expanses.
Ocelot doesn't translate the Arabic in subtitles, leaving a western viewer with a sense of dislocation and loss. Underscoring these cultural and linguistic barriers between peoples with different beliefs puts matters into a very modern context. Yet the film delivers its messages about empathy and compassion with the lightest of touches. A musical score from Gabriel Yared adds to the multi-cultural richness by combining musical themes from both sides of the Mediterranean.
AZUR & ASMAR
Diaphana Distribution
Nord-Ouest Production
Credits:
Writer/director/graphic artist: Michel Ocelot
Producer: Christophe Rossignon
Executivbe producer: Eve Machuel
Backgrounds: Anne-Lise Lourdelet-Koehler
Music: Gabriel Yared.
Cast: Azur (adult): Cyril Mourali
Asmar (adult): Karim M'Ribah
Jenane: Hiam Abbass
Crapoux: Patrick Timsit
Princess Chamsous Sabah: Fatma Ben Khell
Azur (child): Rayan Mahjoub
Asmar (child): Abdelsselem Ben Amar
No MPAA rating
Running time -- 99 minutes...
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.