Depardieu and Auteuil in Babe Films productions

11/02/2008

The cornerstone of French/Italian co-productions, Paris-based company Babe Films, headed by Fabio Conversi, is venturing into the delegated production of majority French features.

The line-up includes Graham Guit’s Hello Goodbye, starring Gérard Depardieu and Fanny Ardant; and Zabou Breitman’s Je l’aimais (“I Loved Him”), with Daniel Auteuil and Marie-José Croze.

Shooting is currently wrapping up on the comedy Hello Goodbye, the fourth feature by Guit (Shooting Stars, The Kidnappers). The film reunites the director with Depardieu, after they worked together on Pact of Silence.

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Co-written by Guit and Michael Lellouche, the film traces the misadventures of a wealthy Parisian couple who travel to Israel in search of their neglected Jewish roots. But their trip is not as idyllic as they had imagined.

Co-produced by Israel, the film will be distributed domestically and sold internationally by SND.

Following the success of Claude Berri’s Hunting and Gathering [+see also:
trailer
film profile], Je l’aimais, which is also adapted from an Anna Gavalda novel, will begin its 11-week shoot at the end of April.

This is the third feature by Breitman (2003 Cesar Award for Best Debut Film for Try to Remember [+see also:
trailer
film profile]).

Co-written by the director and Agnès de Sacy, the film tells the story of a man who takes his daughter-in-law away to the countryside, as her husband has just left her. Confronted with the sorrow of the young woman, the rather reserved father-in-law reveals to her his secret love life.

Domestic distribution and international sales are still under negotiation.

Babe Films also continue to co-produce Italian titles. Following My Brother Is an Only Child [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Daniele Luchetti
interview: Riccardo Tozzi
film profile], The Family Friend, The Missing Star, Romanzo Criminale [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Michele Placido
film profile] and Don’t Tell, Conversi is co-producing Paolo Sorrentino’s Il divo which may screen at this year’s Cannes festival; and Michele Placido’s project Il grande sogno (“The Great Dream”) about the events of 1968 and set to star Riccardo Scamarcio and Jasmine Trinca.