13/09/2006

The French/US duel continues today in French theatres with four domestic titles and six new US releases.

EuropaCorp. Distribution is offering the most ambitious French release this Wednesday, with Xavier Giannoli’s The Singer [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] opening on 265 screens.

Screened in official selection at this year’s Cannes Film Festival (see article), the third feature by the young director of Eager Bodies (2003) is expecting the film’s stars Gérard Depardieu (see interview) and Cécile de France to draw audiences who made another French film Don’t Worry, I’m Fine [+see also:
trailer
film profile] by Philippe Lioret top of the box office last week.

The Singer, a €7.3m production from Rectangle Productions and EuropaCorp, received €380,000 in advances on receipts from the CNC, €800,000 from France 3 Cinéma and pre-sales financing from Canal +.

Two other Cannes titles also arrive on screens today. Ad Vitam is releasing the offbeat comedy Avida [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] by Benoît Delépine and Gustave Kerven on 30 screens. The film was screened out of competition at Cannes (see news May 20, 2006) and is co-produced by MNP (Mathieu Kassovitz’s company), StudioCanal and No Money.

Meanwhile, Rezo Films is unveiling Jean-Claude Brisseau’s Exterminating Angels [+see also:
trailer
film profile] on 52 screens. The title was selected in Directors’ Fortnight 2006 and produced by TS Productions on a €1.3m budget with €380,000 in advances on receipts from the CNC.

Lastly, Pierre Grise Distribution are releasing Djamila Sahraoui’s Barakat! [+see also:
trailer
film profile] on 20 screens. The film is produced by Les Films d'Ici and co-produced by Arte France Cinéma.

Screened in the Forum sidebar at the 2006 Berlin Film Festival, the film starring Rachida Brakni (Shooting Star 2002) follows the adventures of a young female doctor searching for her husband, a journalist who disappeared in Algeria during the 1990 conflicts.

(Translated from French)