02/01/2003

Following the New Year’s Eve release of Un couple épatant, the first of a trilogy by Belgian director Lucas Belvaux, French distributor Diaphana is readying itself for the contemporary release of the other two features, Cavale and Après la vie on 8 January.
Made concurrently on location in Grenoble between June and November 2001, the three movies form a trilogy about couples whose relationships gradually develop with each new chapter. Un couple épatant is a comedy starring Ornella Muti and François Morel; Cavale a political thriller starring Catherine Frot and Belvaux himself and Après la vie is a sad story about drug addiction, featuring Dominique Blanc and Gilbert Melki.
Produced by France’s Agat Film e Cie, Belgian producer Diane Elbaum’s Entre Chien Et Loup in partnership with Rhônes-Alpes cinéma and Belgium's RTBF TV, Belvaux’s trilogy presented Diaphane with the opportunity to try their hand at highly original distribution formula. Part 1, Un couple épatant, was first released in 70 and subsequently 140 prints, a strategy that convinced French exhibitors to follow it up with the two successive chapters.The last time something similar was attempted was with Alain Resnais’s Smoking and No smoking.

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(Translated from French)