Frot and Dussollier star in Associés Contre le Crime

by Fabien Lemercier

14/06/2011 - The third instalment in a remarkable French-style franchise adapted from Agatha Christie’s works, Pascal Thomas’s seventeenth feature Associés Contre le Crime (“Partners Against Crime”) is currently shooting in Haute-Savoie.

After By the Pricking of My Thumbs (1.27m admissions in France in 2005) and Crime Is Our Business (1.17m viewers in 2008 and a nomination for the Best Adapted Screenplay César 2009), the director is re-immersing himself in the British novelist’s detective world and has, for the third time, cast Catherine Frot (Coup d’Éclat) and André Dussollier (to be seen on screens from August 17 in André Téchiné’s Unforgivable [trailer], unveiled in the latest Cannes Directors’ Fortnight) in the roles of Prudence and Bélisaire Beresford. The cast also includes Linh-Dan Pham, Nicolas Marié, Agathe de La Boulaye, Eric Naggar, Sarah Biasini and Julos Beaucarne.

Adapted by Thomas, Clémence de Bieville and Nathalie Lafaurie from a 1929 short story collection, Associés Contre le Crime sees the eccentric couple of detectives Prudence and Bélisaire Beresford take some well-deserved rest.

But when an extremely wealthy Russian heiress disappears, Prudence can’t resist the call of danger. Bélisaire has no choice but to follow his wilful wife. Their investigation will lead them on the trail of a mysterious scientist who holds the secrets of eternal youth.

Produced by Nathalie Lafaurie for Les Films Français, Associés Contre le Crime has received co-production support from StudioCanal, France 2 Cinéma and Rhône-Alpes Cinéma, and pre-acquisitions from Canal+ and Ciné+.

Having kicked off on May 2, shooting will wrap on July 2. French distribution and international sales will be handled by StudioCanal.

(Translated from French)