email print share on Facebook share on Twitter share on LinkedIn share on reddit pin on Pinterest

PRODUCTION France

Camera, lights, action for Marchal’s RMR 73

by 

Filming began in Marseille today on Olivier Marchal’s third feature, RMR 73. The director's latest crime thriller, which he has described as “ultra-noir”, features Daniel Auteuil (36, Quai Des Orfèvres [+see also:
trailer
film profile
]
), whose upcoming US remake will star Robert De Niro and George Clooney) in the lead role.

Other cast members include Olivia Bonamy (Ils - Them [+see also:
trailer
film profile
]
), Gérald Laroche, Catherine Marchal, Francis Renaud, Guy Lecluyse, Philippe Nahon and Virginia Anderson.

(The article continues below - Commercial information)

The film’s DoP will be Denis Rouden, while Eric Demarsan – whose career began with Jean-Pierre Melville’s Army of Shadows (1969) and The Red Circle (1970) - will compose the score.

While the film’s story has not been fully unveiled by production, one theme of RMR 73 is said to be a manhunt by a strung-out Marseille police officer (Auteuil) trying to track down a criminal.

However, director-scriptwriter Marchal, a former member of the criminal brigade and anti-terrorist section in the 1980s, has given a few clues, saying that RMR 73 is similar to Alain Corneau’s Série noire (1979) and is inspired by the F. Scott Fitzgerald quote, "In the real dark night of the soul it is always three o' clock in the morning, day after day."

The film’s title is a reference to the Manurhin MR-73 revolver made in France and used by police and the gendarmerie, in particular by their special units.

Produced by Jean-Baptiste Dupont and Cyril Colbeau-Justin for LGM Productions, who are also producing Liens du sang (see article), the €13.5m RMR 73 received €2.3m in co-production and pre-sales financing from TF1 Film Production.

Having previously worked on 36, Quai Des Orfèvres (over 2m admissions in France, 7 nominations at the 2005 Cesars and excellent results abroad), Gaumont’s Franck Chorot is the film’s new co-producer. The outfit will also handle the film’s French release in 2008 as well as international sales, which began this month at the European Film Market in Berlin.

Most of the RMR 73 shoot – which will end on May 7 – will take place in Marseille (familiar territory to Marchal after his role in Stéphanie Duvivier’s La peau lisse [+see also:
trailer
film profile
]
, see news), before heading to the Paris region.

(The article continues below - Commercial information)

(Translated from French)

Did you enjoy reading this article? Please subscribe to our newsletter to receive more stories like this directly in your inbox.

Privacy Policy