Ile-de-France backs Miller’s Watch While They Dance

28/01/2010

Starring France’s Marina Hands, Switzerland’s James Thiérrée and Italy’s Maya Sansa, Watch While They Dance, the 15th feature by Claude Miller (A Secret [+see also:
trailer
film profile]) is included in the first 2010 selection by the Ile-de-France Regional Support Fund for Technical Film and Audiovisual Industries. The film, set to start shooting in February, will receive €270,000.

Adapted by Miller and Natalie Carter from Roy Parvin’s novel Menno’s Granddaughter, the film centres on the first wife of a well-known comedian, who recently died under tragic circumstances.

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During a train journey in Canada, she falls ill and gets stuck in a small town due to a snowstorm. It’s the very town where her husband settled when he left her for another woman, who takes her in. But is it really just coincidence that brings the two women face to face?

Watch While They Dance is produced by Aliceleo for €10.5m. The budget includes co-production support from France 2 Cinéma, Switzerland and Canada, as well as pre-sales from Canal + and Ciné Cinéma.

The Ile-de-France region will also back five other feature film projects. Among them, Clément Oubrerie and Marguerite Abouet’s animated film Aya of Yop City, based on their eponymous comic book series. Piloted by Autochenille Production for €7.4m (including €550,000 in regional funding), the film will start production in March.

Finally, €400,000 has been granted to Medhi Ben Attia’s Alter Ego (produced by Mercredi - budget of €2.2m); €400,000 to Fred Louf’s Le Ciel S’est Déchiré (“The Sky Is Torn”, Maïa Cinéma - €3.3m); €500,000 to Chinese director Lou Ye’s Bitch (Les Films du Lendemain - €3.2m); and €90,000 to Juan José Lozano’s French/Swiss documentary Impunity (Dolce Vita Films - €648,765), which has also received the pledge of an advance on receipts from the National Film and Moving Image Centre (CNC).