22/07/2011

Final preparations are underway before shooting starts on August 1 in the Aquitaine region on Claude Miller’s latest film: Thérèse Desqueyroux. Adapted from François Mauriac’s famous 1927 novel of the same name, the film boasts a cast including star actress Audrey Tautou (who has just filmed Delicacy by the Foenkinos brothers), rising stars Gilles Lellouche (Point Blank [+see also:
trailer
film profile]) and Anaïs Demoustier (soon to be seen in Malgorzata Szumowka’s Elles), and Stanley Weber.

Co-scripted by Miller and Nathalie Carter, the film centres on Thérèse, a young, free woman at the start of the 20th century. Without choosing, she marries Bernard Desqueyroux, but indifferent to the pleasures of the flesh and intellectually dissatisfied, she languishes miserably.

In an absurd and desperate act, she tries to poison her husband. Having been unmasked, she falls out of favour with her family and her husband’s family, and above all has to face the justice system.

Miller says it is first and foremost a film about a woman in search of her identity, who overcomes all kinds of pressure and finds herself confronted with all the moral chains that human society sets in motion. According to the director, "Thérèse is a sort of emotional anarchist" and the film, which will explore suffering, betrayal, separation and depression, will also tackle the themes of desire, seduction, tenderness and sensuality.

Produced by Yves Marmion (Les Films du 24) for UGC, Thérèse Desqueyroux has received co-production support from France 3 Cinéma, a pre-acquisition from Canal +, support from the Aquitaine region and backing from Sofica Banque Postale Image 5, UGC 1 and Cofinova 7.

Shooting will last until September 24. UGC Distribution will release the film in French theatres, while international sales are being managed by TF1 International.

(Translated from French)