12/03/2008

European films dominate the line-up of eight new releases hitting French screens today, with only one US production being launched alongside four French films and titles from Germany, the UK and Italy.

Standing out in this week’s line-up is Olivier Marchal’s MR 73 (see news), a thriller launched by Gaumont on 479 screens. The third part in a trilogy that includes Gangsters and 36, Quai des Orfèvres [+see also:
trailer
film profile], this feature starring Daniel Auteuil and Olivia Bonamy is set in Marseilles and centres on an unhinged, alcoholic policeman who is trying to hunt down a serial killer.

The director says: “MR 73 is a film about loneliness, despair and wandering astray. I wanted to pay tribute to the policemen who are abandoned by their families, betrayed by the higher authorities and worn down by a job that they put before everything else. Beyond the detective story, I wanted to make a film about redemption and oblivion as part of human existence."

The title was produced by LGM Productions and co-produced by Gaumont for €13.5m, including a €2.3m investment from TF1 Film Production.

MR 73 will be released on March 19 in Belgium and on April 4 in Italy.

Today also sees the release of two French films that have been lauded by critics. Erick Zonca’s Julia [+see also:
trailer
film profile] (see news) – which was unveiled in competition at the Berlinale and stars UK actress Tilda Swinton - is being released by Studio Canal on 87 screens. Produced by Les Productions Bagheera for a budget of €6.5m, the film was co-produced by Le Bureau, France 3 Cinéma and Belgian company Motion Investment Group.

Pyramide are launching Philippe Faucon’s Two Ladies [+see also:
trailer
film profile] (see news) on 70 screens. The low-budget film was produced by Istiqlal Films for just €950,000, including a €420,000 advance on receipts from the National Centre for Cinematography (CNC), €300,000 from Arte France Cinéma and financial backing from the Paca and Franche-Comté regions.

The week’s French contingent is completed by Stéphane Kazandjian’s comedy Modern Love [+see also:
trailer
film profile], starring Alexandra Lamy, Stéphane Rousseau and Bérénice Bejo (released by Pathé Distribution on 182 screens).

Further European releases include the rebellious comedy My Führer – The Truly Truest Truth about Adolf Hitler [+see also:
trailer
film profile] by German director Dani Levy (see news - distributed by Jour2Fête on 50 screens); Sarah Gavron’s UK feature Brick Lane [+see also:
trailer
film profile] (nominated at the BAFTAs and prize winner at the London and Dinard Film Festivals – released by Diaphana on 31 screens); and Davide Ferrario’s Italian documentary Primo Levi’s Journey [+see also:
trailer
film profile] (released by Chrysalis Films on 1 screen) which screened in competition at the first RomeFilmFest.

(Translated from French)