Camera, lights, action for Guédiguian’s Lady Jane
Principal photography on Robert Guédiguian’s Lady Jane begins today in Marseille. The film is the 15th feature by Guédiguian and his first crime drama, a genre currently very much in vogue in French cinema.
Back in his favourite city after The Last Mitterand and Armenia [+see also:
trailer
film profile], the director is reuniting Ariane Ascaride, Jean-Pierre Darroussin and Gérard Meylan for the twelfth time.
Other cast members include Jacques Boudet, Frédérique Bonnal, Christine Brücher and Yann Tregouët. This is also Guédiguian’s second time working with DoP Pierre Millon.
Scripted by the director and his regular partner Jean-Louis Milesi (who are working together for the ninth time), Lady Jane is the story of three childhood friends: Muriel, François and René (Ascaride, Darroussin and Meylan). Partners in crime (burglaries, to be precise), the three end their "criminal" activities after one of their attempted burglaries fails.
They vow never to see each other again until, however, Muriel’s son is kidnapped, which leads the three to join forces again to get the ransom money.
Guédiguian laconically commented on the plot as “a gangster film told my way, and the film’s title Lady Jane is a reference to a Rolling Stones song". The 1966 title will certainly add a sentimental flavour to the director’s new film.
Produced by Guédiguian for Agat Films & Cie, Lady Jane will shoot until April 21 and carries a €4.1m budget, including €800,000 from France 3 Cinéma (half in pre-sales, half in co-production) and CNC advances on receipts.
Diaphana will release the film in French cinemas, while Films Distribution will handle international sales.
(Translated from French)
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