What’s in store from Pathé

by Fabien Lemercier

06/11/2007 - Currently in eighth position in the 2007 list of distributors, with Hunting and Gathering [trailer] heading the list (2.3m admissions), Pathé is enjoying a wave of success this autumn, heralding a promising future.

After launching 99 F [trailer] by Jan Kounen (almost 1.2m admissions, see article), the group’s distribution arm placed all their hopes on Marc Esposito’s French Men 2 [trailer], the romantic comedy that has already pulled in 970,000 admissions in 12 days, outperforming its predecessor (1.5m admissions in 2003).

With Pathé’s production, distribution and UK divisions headed by François Ivernel and Marc Lacan since March (under the aegis of Jérôme Seydoux), the group have put together an exciting slate of releases for the end of 2007 – start of 2008.

The line-up includes Francis Ford Coppola’s Youth Without Youth [trailer] (November 14), Olivier Jean-Marie’s animated film Go West: A Lucky Luke Adventure (December 5) and Venice prize-winner The Secret of the Grain [trailer] by Abdellatif Kechiche (see interview, December 12), before the unveiling of Asterix at the Olympic Games [trailer] by Frédéric Forestier and Thomas Langmann, starring Gérard Depardieu, Alain Delon, Clovis Cornillac and Benoit Poelvoorde, on January 30, 2008 (see article).

In March, Pathé will distribute two French comedies: Modern Love by Stéphane Kazandjian and Dany Boon’s Bienvenue chez les Ch'tis, starring Kad Merad (2007 César for Best Supporting Actor) and Zoé Félix.

Other prominent titles lying in store for the second half of 2008 include Christophe Barratier’s Faubourg 36 (see article) and Etienne Chatiliez’s Agathe Cléry (see news).

(Translated from French)