Blood Ties: a stellar cast for Guillaume Canet

by Fabien Lemercier

19/03/2012 - A remake of Jacques Maillot’s Liens du sang [trailer] (2008) with a screenplay by American screenwriter James Gray, Blood Ties will be Guillaume Canet’s fourth feature film and his first film in English. Filming should kick off in New York at the end of April, with an impressive cast to include English actor Clive Owen (Intruders [trailer, film focus]), American actors Billy Crudup (Watchmen [trailer]), the legendary James Caan, Mila Kunis (Black Swan), and Zoe Saldana (Avatar [trailer]), as well as French star Marion Cotillard (the filmmaker’s partner).

Discovered with Whatever You Say (nominated in 2003 for a César award for best first film), Guillaume Canet then imposed himself in France and worldwide with Tell No One [trailer] (3.1 million admissions in France and the 2007 César Award for Best Director) and Little White Lies [trailer] (5.44 million admissions in France in 2010).

Blood Ties is set in New York in 1974. Chris Pierzynski (Clive Owen) has been in prison for several years for taking part in a revenge crime. His young brother Frank (Billy Crudup), who reluctantly waits for him outside the prison, is a promising young policeman. Chris and Frank have always been different, and their father (James Caan) who brought them up on his own, has always preferred Chris despite him getting into trouble, which has hurt Frank. But they are bound by blood, so Frank gives his brother a chance. He puts him up, finds him a job, and helps him to get back in touch with his children and his ex-wife. Chris meets Natalie, who brings hope of a new life, but soon his past catches up with him and he returns to crime. For Frank, it’s one betrayal too many, and he banishes Chris from his life. Frank leaves the police force to settle down with Vanessa, the ex-girlfriend of a professional killer. Chris has already killed and he will kill again, as Frank cannot stop him. Despite the rivalry, the violent conflicts, and painful betrayals, nothing will stop Chris in his quest for an ultimate sacrifice.

Produced by Alain Attal for Les Productions du Trésor (who have just emerged from the success of Polisse [trailer, film focus]), Blood Ties is co-produced by LGM Cinéma and Chifoumi Production. Wild Bunch, in charge of international sales, has already pre-sold the film in many territories including Scandinavia, Roumania (Independenta), Greece, Switzerland (Frenetic), India and China.

(Translated from French)