Boule et Bill: a child, a dog, and a family

by Fabien Lemercier

23/03/2012 - What news from Parisian production company LGM Cinéma! After having successfully released Cloclo [trailer] by Florent-Emilio Siri on March 14 (1 million admissions in France during its first week), the producing duo Cyril Colbeau-Justin and Jean-Baptiste Dupont this week started filming Boule et Bill, the second feature by Alexandre Charlot and Franck Magnier after Imogène McCarthery [trailer]. The film features, among others, Marina Foïs (photo - nominated for a César for best actress in 2012 for Polisse [trailer, film focus]) and Franck Dubosc (due in cinemas on April 11 avril in Plan de table).

Written by the two directors (who also co-wrote the screenplay of Welcome to the Sticks [trailer]), the screenplay is a very free adaptation of the comic series by Roba (which sold over 25 million books)as it is a "prequel". Leading a quiet life in the countryside in the 1970s, Boule, a 9-year-old boy, has always dreamed of having a dog. Helped by his mother (Marian Foïs), he manages to convince his father (Franck Dubosc) to visit an animal shelther run by the animal protection agency SPA (Société Protectrice des Animaux). Boule immediately falls for an adorable little Cocker Spaniel. Baptised Bill, the dog will complicate the family’s existence before becoming essential to its well-being…

Coproduced by the Belgian Nexus Factory, Bidibul Productions from Luxemburg, TF1 Films Productions, and StudioCanal (who will be in charge of French distribution in 2013 as well as international sales), Boule et Bill has a budget of €15m and will be filmed in 12 weeks until June 8 in Brussels, Luxemburg and Paris.

(Translated from French)