Darkness fall on Blanc’s "snow"

by Fabien Lemercier

27/01/2009 - The first leg of shooting was completed in Belgium last week on Christophe Blanc’s thriller Blanc comme neige (“White as Snow”). This is the second feature by the director who won acclaim for An Outgoing Woman (2000).

Blanc comme neige stars François Cluzet (Best Actor César in 2007 for Tell No One [trailer]), Louise Bourgoin (The Girl from Monaco [trailer]) and Belgian actors Olivier Gourmet (Home [trailer, film focus]), Jonathan Zaccaï (Private Lessons [trailer, film focus]), and Bouli Lanners (Eldorado [trailer]).

Co-written by Blanc and Roger Bohbot (Best Screenplay César in 2007 for Lady Chatterley [trailer], nominated in 2005 for Kings and Queen [trailer], in 2004 for Since Otar Left and in 1999 for The Dreamlife of Angels), the film centres on Maxime, a luxury car dealer (Cluzet), who is married (to Bourgoin’s character) and has everything a man could desire.

But after his business partner (Lanners) disappears, one evening some men come knocking on his door. Quick as lightning, everything he has in life is taken from him. This nightmare is connected to Maxime’s two brothers (Zaccaï and Gourmet), one of whom is a former small-time crook who has opened a dog kennel.

Produced by Mikhaël Hers for Blue Monday Productions, Blanc comme neige has co-production backing from Rhône-Alpes Cinéma and Belgium’s Need Productions. The film also received an advance on receipts from the National Film Centre (CNC), and pre-sales from Canal + and Ciné Cinéma.

Having kicked off with four days in Brussels during the Motor Show, the ten-week shoot will continue in March with ten days in Finland and lensing in Marseilles and the Rhône-Alpes region. Also co-producing, MK2 will handle domestic distribution and international sales.

(Translated from French)