Frot cooks for the French president in Les Saveurs du Palais

11/10/2011

Having kicked off on September 26 in Iceland, shooting on Christian Vincent’s eighth feature, Les Saveurs du Palais (“The Flavours of the Palace”), continued last week in Perigord and is now taking place in Paris until November 25.

The new film by the director of The Discreet (César Award for Best Debut Film in 1991), Set Fare (two nominations for the Best Female Newcomer César in 1993), The Separation (nominated for the Best Actor and Best Actress Césars in 1995) and Four Stars [+see also:
trailer
film profile] (shown in the Berlinale Panorama 2006, nominated for the Best Supporting Actor César 2007) stars highly popular actress Catherine Frot [pictured] (recently acclaimed in Coup d’Éclat [+see also:
trailer
film profile]), alongside Arthur Dupont, Hippolyte Girardot and Thomas Chabrol, among others.

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Co-scripted by Vincent and Etienne Comar (Of Gods and Men [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Xavier Beauvois
film profile]), the film traces the experiences of Hortense Laborie (Frot), a renowned chef who lives in Perigord. To her great surprise, the French president (played by an actor whose name will be revealed at a later date by the production team) appoints her as his personal chef at the Elysée Palace.

Despite the jealousy of other chefs, Hortense asserts herself with her strong character. Her authentic cooking soon wins over the president, but in the corridors of power, there are many obstacles. These extraordinary trials and tribulations are based on the life of Danièle Mazet-Delpeuch, who practised her culinary art as personal chef to former French president François Mitterrand.

Produced by Philippe Rousselet (whose production credits include Lord of War and Source Code [+see also:
trailer
film profile], among others) for Vendome Production and Etienne Comar for Armada Films, two producers who also joined forces on the hit film Service Entrance [+see also:
trailer
film profile], Les Saveurs du Palais has received co-production support from France 2 Cinéma and a pre-acquisition from TPS. French distribution and international sales will be handled by Wild Bunch.