21/06/2007

After his Berlinale winner Ultranova [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Bouli Lanners
film profile] (see Focus), Bouli Lanners is making his second feature, California Wash (formerly entitled Léa), filming of which began on June 11 and is expected to continue until the end of July in Belgium and Luxembourg.

A painter and comedian, Lanners began his career in a series of television sketches, which made him a household name. Now he’s taking the director’s chair while also starring in two films in two upcoming films: directing tandem Delépine/Kervern’s third title, Louise Michèle, which begins filming soon, and Samuel Benchetrit’s J'ai toujours voulu être un gangster alongside Serge Larivière, set for release next February.

In his second film, Lanners will also play the lead role: an antique American car dealer, who takes a young boy by surprise (young Conservatoire actor Fabrice Adde) during a house burglary. He takes the boy under his wing and drives him home to his parents, leading a motorway adventure along the way.

Lanners’ film has similar themes to Ultranova in that is a road movie about feeling lost, be it romantically, socially or geographically. The choice of theme seems to confirm Lanners’ preference for a style of US filmmaking used in films by Wim Wenders and Jim Jarmusch.

The cast also features Michaël Abiteboul, Philippe Nahon and Renaud Rutten, while the crew reunites some of the Ultranova team, including Paul Rouschop (production design), Olivier Hespel (sound), Erwin Ryckaert (editor) and DoP Jean-Paul De Zaeytijd (who lensed Micha Wald’s recent Horse Thieves [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile]).

Conceived and produced by Liege-based Versus Production for a €2,288,983 budget, California Wash – this is still the film’s working title for now – is a co-production between France’s Lazennec, Belgian broadcaster RTBF and intermediate agents Invest and Casa Kafka Pictures.

The film has been backed by the Centre de l'Audiovisuel et du Cinéma de la Communauté française de Belgique, CNC advances on receipts, Wallimage and Eurimages, with participation from television channels TPS and Ciné Cinéma. International sales will be handled by Films Distribution. The title opens in the Benelux through BFD and in France through Haut et Court next summer.

(Translated from French)