17/03/2010

For the past few weeks, French films have dominated the line-up of new releases in Belgian theatres. This week is no exception, as four of the seven films hitting screens are French. However, they each share a local element, for their respective casts include at least one Belgian actor.

Christophe Blanc’s White As Snow [+see also:
trailer
film profile] even stars three. While the lead couple is played by François Cluzet and Louise Bourgoin (who kick off with this film an impressive series of titles to be released in 2010), the rest of the cast includes the cream of Belgian acting talent: Olivier Gourmet, Jonathan Zaccaï and Bouli Lanners. Produced by Blue Monday, the film is being released on eight screens by BFD.

The latter is also launching Safy Nebbou’s Dumas [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] this week. Nebbou chose to cast highly popular Namur-born actor Benoît Poelvoorde alongside the quasi-sacred Gérard Depardieu. Inspired by the complex relationship between well-known author Alexandre Dumas, and his ghostwriter Auguste Maquet, Dumas explores literary identity.

Meanwhile, Victory is banking on success with a 22-print run of Heartbreaker [+see also:
trailer
making of
film profile]. This debut feature by Pascal Chaumeil centres on an unseen-before and glamorous couple: Romain Duris and Vanessa Paradis.

While the latter’s big-screen appearances are so few and far between as to spark intense media attention every time, the real surprise lies in one obvious fact: despite his “popular ladies’ man” aura, this is Duris’ first romantic comedy. The couple star opposite brilliant and hilarious token Belgian François Damiens.

Finally, this week’s line-up of releases also includes Sherry Horman’s German film Desert Flower [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] and Samuel Maoz’s French/German co-production Lebanon [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] (winner of the Golden Lion at the latest Venice Film Festival).

(Translated from French)