16/01/2006

First clapperboard in Paris for Les Ambitieux (the Ambitious), the film by Catherine Corsini with Karin Viard, Eric Caravaca and Pierre Arditi in the principal roles. After Poker (1988), Les amoureux (1994), La Nouvelle Eve (1998), La Répétition (2001 – official competition at the Cannes Film Festival) and The Very Merry Widows [+see also:
trailer
film profile] (2003), the French director this time attacks this time the unforgiving world of publishing from a screenplay co-written with Benoît Graffin (credited with the writing of the last two features from Pierre Salvadori). The story follows the misadventures of Julien (Eric Caravaca) who works in a bookshop in the provinces, writing and dreaming of being published. But the strange consequences of a meeting with Judith Zahn (Karin Viard), a redoubtable Paris editor will change his destiny. Julien will find himself by chance in possession of the secrets notebooks of the father of the editor with whom the latter had a love-hate relationship. Becoming the official lover of the terrible Judith, Julien will use these secrets, which do not belong to him, to write a novel in secret. Discovering the manuscript, Judith, feeling betrayed, reproaches Julien for having pretended to love her, but accepts to edit the book as it could become a success, all the while preparing her vengeance against the young and ambitious writer.

Produced, distributed and internationally by Pyramide, Les Ambitieux whose shooting will last until the 9th March in the capital, sees the reunion of Karin Viard (César de for best actress in 2000 and best female in a secondary role in 2003) and Catherine Corsini after La Nouvelle Eve. For his part, Eric Caravaca, 35 year old actor on the up, who had a remarkable directing debut with Le Passager [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] (read critique - French release 22 March), adds Les Ambitieux to a seductive filmography which includes notably three films by François Dupeyron, one by Patrice Chéreau (His Brother) and the next Lucas Belvaux (La Raison du plus faible [+see also:
trailer
film profile]).

(Translated from French)