Denis’s Here Below explores love, religion, Resistance and betrayal

by Fabien Lemercier

28/09/2010 - Absent from screens since The Girl from the Chartreuse [trailer] (2005), Jean-Pierre Denis will start shooting his sixth feature, Here Below, on October 4 in Dordogne. The film is based on the true story of a nun who betrayed a network of Resistance fighters after a disappointment in love during the Second World War.

The cast includes Eric Caravaca (Client [trailer], The Counsel [trailer]), Céline Sallette (discovered in Murderers [trailer] and set to appear next year in L’apollonide (Souvenirs de la Maison Close)), François Loriquet and Jacques Spiesser.

Winner of the Camera d’Or at Cannes in 1980 with Adrien’s Story, Denis was selected in competition on the Croisette in 1987 with Champ d’Honneur (“Field of Honour”). He also received four Cesar 2001 nominations (including for Best Film and Best Director) for Murderous Maids.

Co-scripted by the director and Pierre Boidin, Here Below is set in Perigord in 1943. Sister Luce (Sallette), a nun and nurse, has a passionate love affair with a priest (Caravaca) who is involved in the Resistance movement. But this love causes turmoil and ends in bloodshed. .

Denis explained: "I’m interested in exploring this inner journey from the love of Christ to the love of a man, followed by abandonment, despair and denouncement."

Produced by Marie-Claude Arbaudie and Gorune Aprikian for Araproduction, Here Below is co-produced by France 3 Cinéma, has been pre-bought by Canal + and has an advance on receipts from the National Film and Moving Image Centre (CNC). It is backed by the Aquitaine Region and departmental council of Dordogne, where shooting will take place until November 24. .

French distribution and international sales will be handled by Pyramide.

(Translated from French)