20/11/2008

Eight film projects, including two documentaries, are included in the fourth 2008 selection by the Ile-de-France Regional Support Fund for Technical Film and Audiovisual Industries.

Among them is Une exécution ordinaire – the debut directorial feature by writer Marc Dugain – which is set to receive €402,000 in funding. The author previously adapted his debut novel The Officers’ Ward for the big screen. The film – directed by François Dupeyron – was presented in official competition at the 2001 Cannes Film Festival.

Une exécution ordinaire – which is set to start shooting in January 2009 – will star André Dussollier and Marina Hands (Best Actress Cesar in 2007 for Lady Chatterley [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile]). The cast is also expected to include Edouard Baer and Denis Podalydès.

Une exécution ordinaire is adapted by Dugain from his book and the plot begins a few weeks before Stalin’s death. The latter – who is preparing to deport Russia’s Jews – has his personal doctor executed.

In order to relieve his physical suffering, he secretly calls on a young healer whom he manipulates, persuading her to leave the love of her life: her husband. But the broken and dignified couple survive the episode and outlive the dictator.

The film is produced by Jean-Louis Livi for F Comme Film for a projected budget of €8.4m. This includes co-production support from France 3 Cinéma and StudioCanal (who are also handling domestic distribution and international sales) and pre-sales from Canal +. Shooting will last 50 days.

F Comme Film currently have three titles in post-production : Je suis heureux que ma mère soit vivante (“I’m Happy that My Mother is Alive”) by Claude and Nathan Miller (see news); Francis Huster’s Un homme et son chien (“A Man and His Dog”, to be released on January 14, 2009); and Alain Resnais’ Les herbes folles (“Wild Grasses”, see news).

The Ile-de-France region also chose to grant €402,000 to Jan Kounen’s Chanel & Stravinsky: The Secret Story (currently shooting and starring Anna Mougalis and Mads Mikkelsen - produced by Eurowide Film - see news); and Emmanuel Mouret’s Fais-moi plaisir (“Give Me Pleasure”, produced by Moby Dick Films - see news).

A sum of €360,000 will go to Steve Suissa’s Mensch (produced by ARP - see news); €400,000 to Brigitte Sy’s debut feature Les mains libres (“Free Hands”, produced by Mezzanine Films); and €384,000 to Serge Elissalde’s animated film project Le jour des corneilles (“The Day of the Crows”, a majority French production by Finalement, co-produced by Belgium’s Vivifilms and Luxembourg’s Mélusine Productions).

Finally, among the selected documentaries, €63,000 has been granted to Pierre Carles’ Fin de concession (CP Productions) and €72,000 to Clarisse Hahn’s Kurdishlover (Les Films du présent).

(Translated from French)