16/04/2012 - Olivier Marchal and Jacques Gamblin are Parisian night club owners threatened by the return of a psychopath looking for revenge.

As previously announced by Cineuropa before the Berlinale’s European Film Market (news), scriptwriter Edgar Marie (A Gang Story [+see also:
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film profile], Braquo) is stepping behind the camera with the thriller Paris Countdown. Since filming started on April 10, the film has brought together a cast of Olivier Marchal (Jo’s Boy [+see also:
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interview: John Shank
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interview: Jacques Audiard
interview: Jacques Audiard and Tahar R…
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Written by the director, the screenplay revolves around Milan and Victor, two nightclub owners in Paris who have known each other for ever, but have fallen out of touch. But the return of Serki, a dangerous psychopath, brings back bad memories to the surface. At a time when business was plummeting, Milan and Victor had accepted a nasty deal that sent Serki to prison in Mexico. If he has come back, it’s for revenge. The two old friends will have to make their way through a boiling night together to find a solution to their problem. But the world that surrounds them has changed. They are disconnected from their own universe. During the night, they will discover how rotten their friendship has become and re-evaluate the lies polluting their existence. Between pay-backs and the looming threat of death, Milan and Victor will have to make life-changing choices, choices that will implicate their values, their families, and the 30 years of friendship between them.

Mainly co-produced by Cyril Hauguel for Extérieur Jour and by Jean Labadie for Le Pacte, Paris Countdown is also co-produced by LGM Cinéma (Cyril Colbeau-Justin and Jean-Baptiste Dupont) and by Belgian companies Nexus Factory and uFilm. Pre-bought notably by 13ème Rue, Canal+, and RTL Belgique, the film is also supported by the Sofica B Media Export and Cinémage, as well as TF1 Vidéo. Filming will go on until May 25 (five weeks in Brussels, four days in Paris and one in Spain). Le Pacte will lead the film’s distribution in French cinemas and Gaumont will be in charge of international sales.

(Translated from French)