“Last screening” for Achard
The second half of October sees the kicking off of lensing in Paray-le-Monial on Laurent Achard’s third feature Dernière séance (“Last Screening”). Achard’s previous accolades include a Tiger Award at Rotterdam 1999 with Plus qu'hier, moins que demain and Best Director at Locarno 2006 with Demented [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Dominique Barneaud
interview: Laurent Achard
film profile], which also went on to pick up a Jean Vigo Prize.
Heading the bill of the director’s new film – described as a thriller and produced by Sylvie Pialat – is Achard’s favourite actor, Pascal Cervo.
Scripted by the director and Frédérique Moreau, the plot centres on Sylvain, a young man who devotes his life to a local cinema about to shut its doors. Living in the basement of the theatre where he is programmer, projectionist and cashier, Sylvain is harbouring a terrible secret: his mother committed suicide before him when he was a child.
Burdened with a sense of guilt, Sylvain goes out every night in search of a victim, which represents a kind of “trophy” that he then leaves at his mother’s altar. His murder ritual is eventually disturbed, however, by a meeting with a young filmgoer with whom he falls in love.
Produced by Les Films du Worso, Dernière séance has acquired pre-sales from Canal + and Ciné Cinéma, as well as backing from the Burgundy region. Shooting is set to last four to five weeks in Paray-le-Monial, principally at the Cinéma Empire. Epicentre Films are to handle nationwide theatrical release, while international sales are still under negotiation.
Les Films du Worso currently have three titles in post-production: Guillaume Nicloux’s Holiday (see news) to be released on December 22 by MK2; Hélène Angel’s Private Property (out January 19 2011, Epicentre Films); and Julie Gavras’ Late Bloomers (see news).
(Translated from French)
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