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PRODUCTION France

Roman Polanski readying Based on a True Story

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- Shooting will start in November, with Emmanuelle Seigner and Eva Green among the cast of this adaptation of the novel by Delphine de Vigan, co-written by Olivier Assayas

Roman Polanski readying Based on a True Story
Director Roman Polanski

The first clapperboard will slam in Paris on 14 November for the 21st feature by Polish master Roman Polanski, Based on a True Story [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile
]
. It will be toplined by Emmanuelle Seigner (nominated for the César Award for Best Actress in 2014 for Venus in Fur [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Roman Polanski
film profile
]
and who turned heads recently at Venice and Toronto in Heal the Living [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Katell Quillévéré
film profile
]
) and Eva Green (who made her breakthrough in Casino Royal and recently won a string of awards for the TV series Penny Dreadful). 

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Written by the director together with Olivier Assayas (nominated for the César Award for Best Screenplay in 1986 for Rendez-vous and in 2015 for Clouds of Sils Maria [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Charles Gillibert
interview: Olivier Assayas
film profile
]
), the screenplay is an adaptation of Delphine de Vigan’s novel of the same name, which depicts a woman taking ownership of another woman’s life, much like a Hitchcockian thriller. The plot of the book revolves around a novelist who has just had a hugely successful book published. However, she feels uncomfortable about the consequences of her newfound fame and meets a woman who works as a biography ghost-writer. While their relationship is initially amicable, it soon starts to transform as this manipulative, predatory character takes control of the author’s life. 

Having pocketed the Palme d’Or at Cannes in 2002 with The Pianist [+see also:
trailer
film profile
]
and also been selected in competition on the Croisette with The Tenant in 1976 and Venus in Fur in 2013, Roman Polanski has also been in competition at Berlin four times (in 1965, winning the Special Jury Prize for Repulsion, 1966, 1972 and 2010 – Silver Bear for Best Director for The Ghost Writer [+see also:
trailer
film profile
]
) and twice at Venice (in 1962 with Knife in the Water and in 2011 with Carnage [+see also:
trailer
film profile
]
, which won a Little Golden Lion), among countless other accolades. The filmmaker has been nominated for the Oscar five times (for Best Screenplay in 1969 for Rosemary's Baby, Best Director in 1975 for Chinatown and in 1981 for Tess, and finally Best Film in 2003 for The Pianist, which earned him the statuette for Best Director). 

Produced by Wassim Béji for WY Productions, Based on a True Story will be distributed in France by Mars Films and is being sold overseas by Lionsgate. 

WY Productions has A Perfect Man [+see also:
trailer
film profile
]
and all of Jalil Lespert’s films, including Yves Saint Laurent [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Jalil Lespert
film profile
]
and Iris [+see also:
trailer
film profile
]
(currently in post-production), to its credit.

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(Translated from French)

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