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RELEASES France

Sfar’s bold debut Je t'aime, moi non plus hits screens

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Today sees the release of an original, accomplished and much media-publicised debut cinematic feature by 38-year-old illustrator Joann Sfar (who has 150 comic books to his name). Gainsbourg: Je t'aime...Moi non plus [+see also:
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interview: Kacey Mottet Klein
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(see news) is being launched by Universal Pictures International France on 399 screens.

Retracing the childhood and rise to fame of talented singer and agitator Serge Gainsbourg (brilliantly portrayed by Eric Elmosnino) from the Second World War to the 1980s, Sfar infuses his film with a bold and playful style that is far removed from traditional biopics. Injecting fantasy and dreamlike elements, the director has created an astonishing imaginary alter-ego of the artist (played by Doug Jones) and put together an impressive cast, including late Brit actress Lucy Gordon as Jane Birkin, Laetitia Casta as Brigitte Bardot, Anna Mouglalis as Juliette Greco, Mylène Jampanoï as Bambou, Sara Forestier as France Gall, Philippe Katerine as Boris Vian and Yolande Moreau as Fréhel.

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The first-time director, who wanted to give his film "the ardour of a Russian novel", has pulled of his feat, even though his quirky feature (sold by Kinology to almost all territories across the world) loses a little of its major originality in a more conventional final third.

Je t'aime, moi non plus was produced by One World Films for over €16m. The budget included co-production support from Studio 37, Focus, France 2 Cinéma, Lilou Films and Xilam Films, pre-sales from Canal + and Orange Cinéma Séries, and backing from the Ile-de-France region.

Sfar has also been working on an animated film adaptation of his comic book The Rabbi’s Cat, which will be released theatrically on June 16, 2010.

This Wednesday also sees the release on generous print-runs of two European co-productions: The Barons [+see also:
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Interview with director and actress of…
interview: Nabil Ben Yadir
film profile
]
by Belgium’s Nabil Ben Yadir (Haut et Court - 130 screens); and Complices [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Frédéric Mermoud
film profile
]
(“Partners”) by Switzerland’s Frédéric Mermoud (Pyramide - 116 screens).

Meanwhile, Ed Distribution is launching a five-print run of Andrew Kötting’s French/Swiss co-production Ivul [+see also:
trailer
film profile
]
and Acte Films is distributing Jean-Henri Meunier’s documentary Nothing To Lose.

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(Translated from French)

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