18/02/2008

Shooting begins today in Antwerp (Belgium) on Diamant 13, the ninth feature by Gilles Béhat, who previously directed Rue Barbare (1984) and who hadn’t worked on any feature since 1990.

The film is an adaptation of Hugues Pagan’s thriller L'étage des Morts (“The Floor of the Dead”).

The cast includes Gérard Depardieu, Olivier Marchal (who directed Department 36 [+see also:
trailer
film profile] and the forthcoming MR 73 [+see also:
trailer
film profile] but also appeared as an actor in Crime Insiders [+see also:
trailer
film profile] and Un roman policier), Italian actress Asia Argento, Aïssa Maïga (Black and White [+see also:
trailer
film profile]), Daniel Duval, Francis Renaud and Isabelle Roelandt.

Co-written by Béhat, Marchal and Pagan, Diamant 13 traces the slow descent into hell of a policeman faced with a society ruled by money, the corruption of his colleagues and the shadow of death.

Mat (Depardieu) is a member of the 13th night division of the criminal police. His lifelong friend, Franck Novak (Marchal) - who works for the drug squad - has been involved for some time in shady dealings. But the confines of morality are easily crossed and when Franck goes too far Mat has to take matters into his own hands.

Produced by Marin Karmitz, Nathanael Karmitz and Charles Gillibert for French company MK2, Diamant 13 is receiving co-production support from Belgian company Artémis Productions (Patrick Quinet) and Luxembourg company Samsa Films, adding to a total budget of around €7m.

Shooting will last eight weeks and the film is set to be released domestically in autumn 2008 by MK2, who are also handling international sales.

(Translated from French)