21/10/2009

Lauded by critics for its masterfulness, rigour, subtlety and aesthetic quality, Michael Haneke’s 2009 Cannes Palme d’Or-winner, The White Ribbon [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Michael Haneke
film profile], is being released in France today by Les Films du Losange on 134 screens.

In 2005, the Austrian director reached the 500,000 admissions mark with Hidden [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Margaret Menegoz
interview: Michael Haneke
film profile] (Best Director at Cannes). The White Ribbon is a fine example of a European co-production, for it was 45% financed by Germany, 22% by France (Les Films du Losange; co-produced by France 3 Cinéma, with pre-sales from Canal + and TPS), 22% by Austria and 10% by Italy.

It should be noted that the French Cinémathèque is hosting a retrospective of the director’s work until November 21.

Among this week’s 12 other new releases is Lucky Luke, which reunites the duo from The Brice Man [+see also:
trailer
film profile]: popular actor Jean Dujardin and director James Huth. Adapted from Morris and Goscinny’s comic book and taking the form of a parodic western, the film has received scant critical approval.

Produced by UGC Images for an astronomical €27m (including co-production support from France 2 Cinéma and France 3 Cinéma, and pre-sales from Canal+ and TPS), Lucky Luke also stars Alexandra Lamy, Sylvie Testud, Michaël Youn and Melvil Poupaud.

UGC Distribution is launching the film on a huge print-run of around 650.

The line-up includes another European co-production: Tony Loeser and Jesper Moller’s animated film Friends Forever, co-produced by Germany, France and Italy and released by Bac Films on over 100 screens.

Also hitting screens are Tom Shankland’s UK horror film The Children [+see also:
trailer
film profile] (Chrysalis Films on around 35 screens); Stephen Burke’s Irish comedy Happy Ever Afters (Haut et Court on around 30 screens); and Simone Bitton’s French/Belgian documentary Rachel [+see also:
trailer
film profile] (Les Films du Paradoxe - 13 screens).

At the box office, Laurent Tirard’s Little Nicholas [+see also:
trailer
film profile] continues to forge ahead with 2.7m admissions in 19 days (Wild Bunch Distribution on 605 screens).

Stéphane Brizé’s Mademoiselle Chambon [+see also:
trailer
film profile] has got off to a good start with 130,000 viewers in five days (Rezo Films - 193 screens), as has Jon Harris’ The Descent: Part 2 [+see also:
trailer
film profile] with 120,000 admissions (Pathé Distribution on 134 screens). Meanwhile, Christian Carion’s Farewell [+see also:
trailer
film profile] clocks in at 626,000 admissions in almost four weeks (Pathé Distribution - 442 screens).

(Translated from French)