Masset-Depasse explores immigrant hell in Illegal

by Aurore Engelen

30/10/2009 - On Monday, Belgian director Olivier Masset-Depasse (Cages [trailer]) started shooting his second feature, Illegal .

Centred on 39-year-old Russian-born Tania, the film recounts her fight to avoid deportation from Belgium, where she has lived for many years and is an integrated member of society. During a police check, she is arrested and locked up in a detention centre, while her son manages to escape. Tania thus begins a fight to preserve her dignity, identity and humanity, as well as find her son.

The director reunites with Anne Coesens, who appeared in his previous feature and shorts, and here plays the role of Tania. Having kicked off on October 26, shooting will continue in Belgium and Luxembourg until December 9.

The rest of the diverse cast is made up of professional actors, including Christelle Cornil, a familiar face in young Belgian cinema (currently on screens in My Queen Karo [trailer] and seen recently in Sister Smile [trailer]), and non-professionals, such as Alexandre Golntcharov, making his screen debut as Ivan, Tania’s son.

A loyal partner of the auteur since his first shorts, Versus Productions is helming the project, which is co-produced by France’s Dharamsala and Luxembourg’s Iris Productions.

Illegal has received backing from the Film and Audiovisual Centre of the Belgian French Community, Wallimage, the Tax Shelter fund, Fonspa, CIAV, RTBF and funding from Ciné Cinéma.

The film is expected for release in May 2010 and international sales are being handled by Films Distribution. It will be released in France by Haut et Court, and in Belgium by O’Brother, the company recently created by Versus.

(Translated from French)