Demoustier gets taste of real life in Living on Love Alone
Winner of the Leopard for Best Debut Film at Locarno 2006 for The Year After [+see also:
trailer
film profile], Isabelle Czajka returns to screens with her second feature, Living on Love Alone [+see also:
trailer
film profile], released today by Bac Films.
The director has once again cast Anaïs Demoustier in the lead role. The young actress, who has enjoyed a string of honours lately (2009 Best Female Newcomer Cesar nomination for Grown Ups [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile], European Film Promotion Shooting Star 2010 – see video interview, and Best Actress last month at Karlovy Vary for Sweet Evil), stars alongside Pio Marmaï (2009 Best Male Newcomer Cesar nomination for The First Day of the Rest of Your Life [+see also:
trailer
film profile]).
Scripted by the director, the film centres on 23-year-old Julie Bataille, who has five years of higher education under her belt and goes from one casual job to the next. But she’s had enough and looks for a real job.
At a job interview, she crosses paths with Ben who has chosen to live from day to day on his wits and small-time dealings. He suggests that she come spend the summer with him in the south. Julie refuses at first then, one day, on an impulse, she drops everything and sets off to join him.
"Youth is a period in life when we learn about work and love; the two are not always easily compatible" explains Czajka. "Being plunged into working life and confronted with the world of work, its laws, hierarchy and humiliations, is a harsh experience for young people. Especially nowadays."
The director also chose to focus on characters from a middle-class background for "most often, films explore the romantic torments of gilded youth or the misfortunes of the underclass. Middle-class life isn’t dramatic."
Produced by Agat Films & Ex Nihilo for €2.3m, Living on Love Alone received co-production support from France 3 Cinéma and pre-acquisitions from Canal + and Ciné Cinéma. Bac Films is also handling international sales.
This Wednesday, UGC is also launching Alain Corneau’s thriller Love Crime (see news), starring Kristin Scott Thomas and Ludivine Sagnier. Meanwhile, Haut et Court is releasing Xavier de Choudens’s Joseph and the Girl, featuring Jacques Dutronc and Hafsia Herzi (see news).
Finally, Albany Films Distribution is hoping for success with Léon Desclozeaux’s Cargo, the Lost Men [+see also:
trailer
film profile] and Les Films du Losange with the outstanding Cleveland Versus Wall Street [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Jean-Stéphane Bron
film profile], which won acclaim in the latest Cannes Directors’ Fortnight.
(Translated from French)
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