21/09/2005

Before the unfurling of Cannes and Venice films announced for the coming weeks, this Wednesday’s releases are set to bring France and the USA head-to-head. Four French productions made by Anne Fontaine, Alain Cavalier, Diane Kurys and Philippe Collin will try to impose themselves on a box-office which continues to drop and where European features have trouble in succeeding despite Peindre et faire l’amour [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Arnaud & Jean-Marie Larrieu
interview: Philippe Martin
film profile] by the brothers Larrieu (520 000 tickets in three weeks).

Presented this week in competition at San Sebastian, Entre ses mains [+see also:
trailer
film profile] by Anne Fontaine is betting on the renowned duo Benoît Poelvoorde - Isabelle Carré. Distributed by Pathé(also handling international sales) with a total of 159 prints, the 7th feature by the director had a budget of 5-6 million euros. Produced by French outfits Ciné B and Soudaine Compagnie, it was co-produced by Belgian K2 Productions and had aid from Wallimage and from CRRAV (Centre régional de l'Audiovisuel du Nord-Pas-de-Calais).
Screened and awarded a prize at the recent Cannes Festival in the section Un Certain regard, Le Filmeur [+see also:
trailer
film profile], the Unidentified Flying Object that is the autobiography from Alain Cavalier is composed of fragments of ten years of his personal life, captured on DV (read article) comes out on 22 prints distributed by Pyramide who also produced the film and who will handle international sales.

But it is mainly the comedies which dominate the screens this week, topping the bill is L'anniversaire [+see also:
trailer
film profile] by Diane Kurys which includes among its cast Lambert Wilson, Isabella Ferrari, Jean-Hugues Anglade Pierre Palmade and Sergio Rubini. Produced by New Light Films and co-produced by StudioCanal (also in charge of international sales), the film is distributed by Mars with 230 prints. For its part, Aux abois by Philippe Collin is released on 48 screens, a distribution driven by Océan Films. Produced by BC Films, the feature is gambling on the comic talent of Elie Semoun and had the support of Arte France Cinéma and is sold internationally by Roissy Films. Worth noting, too, a technical release at last of one copy by Bodega Films of the co-production between Germayn and the UK (Quality Films AND Classicmap Limited) of Fascination by Klaus Menzel with Jacqueline Bisset and Adam Garcia.

(Translated from French)