Les Films des Tournelles back L'élégance du hérisson
Shooting gets underway in Paris today on Mona Achache’s debut feature: L'élégance du hérisson (“The Elegance of the Hedgehog”). The film is adapted from Muriel Barbery’s eponymous novel, which sold over one million copies in France and has enjoyed immense success in Spain, Germany and Italy.
The cast includes Josiane Balasko (Client [+see also:
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The story traces the unexpected encounter between three characters who live in a middle-class apartment building in central Paris: Paloma (Le Guillermic), a fearsomely intelligent and suicidal 11-year-old girl; Renée Michel (Balasko), an unobtrusive, solitary and erudite concierge ("I’m a small, plump, ugly widow. I fit the stereotype of a concierge so perfectly that nobody would imagine that I’m better-read than all these self-important rich people"); and the enigmatic Mr. Kakuro Ozu (Igawa), a Japanese man who shakes up social conventions.
Produced by Anne-Dominique Toussaint for Les Films des Tournelles, L'élégance du hérisson has a budget of €9m. This includes co-production support from Pathé and France 2 Cinéma, and pre-sales from Canal+.
Shooting is scheduled to last 55 days in the Paris area. Pathé – who are managing international sales – will release the film domestically in autumn 2009.
trailer
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The title explores the romantic misfortunes of a 14-year-old boy who is overcome by his urges, physically awkward, averagely clever and lives alone with his mother. Co-produced by Pathé and Studio 37, with backing from Canal + and TPS, Collégiens will be released domestically by Pathé in autumn 2009.
(Translated from French)
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