03/12/2014 - Cédric Jimenez’s slick thriller is sharing the cinema listings with Paddington, as well as works by Leigh, Cantet, Aladag and Mundruczo

Thanks to the go-getting attitude of its distributors, the dense coverage of its cinema network and the open-mindedness of its exhibitors, France is indisputably one of the most enterprising countries when it comes to showcasing cinematic diversity. Even if there is a flip side to the coin (a releases logjam, a high turnover of titles, disorganised media coverage of the marketing for movies, the heightened brutality of successes and failures, and so on), no film-lover will be complaining about it. In fact, this Wednesday, which sees a top-notch range of new releases, is a fresh and dazzling testament to this dynamism.

Standing out this week are two European genre films that combine quality and commercial potential, and which are being released across a huge number of screens: the slick Franco-Belgian thriller The Connection [+see also:
trailer
film profile] (read the article) by Cédric Jimenez, starring Oscar winner Jean Dujardin and Gilles Lellouche in the leads (distributed by Gaumont in 644 theatres), and the British-French family comedy Paddington by Paul King (distributed by StudioCanal), which has got off to a flying start in the UK.

Arthouse titles are also causing sparks to fly, including two films that won awards at Cannes: the splendid Mr Turner [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Mike Leigh
film profile] by English director Mike Leigh (which earned Timothy Spall the Best Actor Award on the Croisette - Diaphana in 143 cinemas) and the fascinating White God [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Kornél Mundruczó
film profile] by Hungarian filmmaker Kornel Mundruczo (which won the Un Certain Regard Prize - Pyramide across 50 screens).

Quality is also assured with Return to Ithaca [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Laurent Cantet
film profile], the “Cuban” feature by the ever-captivating French filmmaker Laurent Cantet (presented at Toronto and the winner of the Venice Days Award – Haut et Court in 60 theatres), the refreshing God Help the Girl [+see also:
trailer
film profile] by Scottish director Stuart Murdoch (better known as the frontman of the pop group Belle and Sebastian - Sundance - MK2 Diffusion in four cinemas) and two movies that were revealed in competition at Berlin: the exploratory Inbetween Worlds [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Feo Aladag
film profile] by Germany’s Feo Aladag (Eurozoom in 15 cinemas) and the blistering Praia do futuro [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] by Karim Aïnouz (read the review – a co-production between Brazil and Germany – Epicentre Films across nine screens).

Lastly of note is the accomplished, sensitive and educational French film Once in a Lifetime by Marie-Castille Mention-Schaar (read the article – UGC Distribution in around 150 theatres), the comedy Repas de famille by Pierre-Henry Salfati (Kanibal Distribution in 250 cinemas) and the Franco-Swiss documentary Iranian [+see also:
trailer
film profile] by Mehran Tamadon (distributed by ZED).

(Translated from French)