Bruno Podalydès reborn with Granny’s Funeral

by Fabien Lemercier

20/06/2012 - Just a few days before the Fête du Cinéma to be held from June 24 to 27 by the National Federation of French Cinemas (all screenings for €2.50 after a first ticket at the normal price), nine new films have been released in France today. The most prominent of these is Granny’s Funeral, an entertaining comedy by Bruno Podalydès that has been released by UGC Distribution in 265 cinemas. The film, melancholy and burlesque, features a brilliant performance by the director’s brother (Denis Podalydès). It was unveiled at the last Directors’ Fortnight in Cannes and has received enthusiastic reviews from the press, who have celebrated the auteur filmmaker’s comeback, after his rather disappointing last film, Park Benches [trailer].

The critics have also been complimentary about The Deep Blue Sea [trailer, film focus], a feature by British director Terence Davies starring a brilliant Rachel Weisz. Unveiled in Toronto and selected for the competition at the last San Sebastian Film Festival, the film tells the tale of a passionate love affair set in the 1950s. The film has been released by Diaphana on 28 copies.

Also out this week are Jitters [trailer] by Icelandic director Baldvin Zophoníasson (read more - Outplay on 5 copies) and the winner of the Golden Lion in Venice, Faust by Russian director Alexander Sokourov (Sophie Dulac Distribution in 24 cinemas).

Rust & Bone by Jacques Audiard continues to do well at the box office with 1.59 million admissions in 33 days (UGC Distribution on 659 copies), while Le Grand Soir by Benoît Delépine and Gustave Kervern has reached 260,000 admissions in 12 days (Ad Vitam on 293 copies).

(Translated from French)