23/04/2013 - Two wrestlers, a tumultuous life and an orgy for Nos héros sont morts ce soir, Suzanne and Les rencontres d’après minuit

Three young French filmmakers feature on the bill of the 52nd Critics' Week (read the info), which will take place from May 16th to 24th as part of the 66th Cannes Film Festival. 

Nos héros sont morts ce soir by David Perrault (article) will be unveiled in competition. The cast features Denis Ménochet, Jean-Pierre Martins, Constance Dollé, Philippe Nahon, Pascale Demollon and Alice Barnole in a first feature film which focuses on two wrestlers who exchange their roles in the 1960's. Produced by Mille et Une Productions with a budget of 3.18 M€ including pre-purchases by Canal+ and Ciné+, funding from the Aquitaine and Centre regions, and the support of Hoche Image, the film will be distributed in France by UFO Distribution with international sales handled by SND.

Revealed during the Directors’ Fortnight in 2010 and winner of the Jean Vigo Prize with Un poison violent [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile], Katell Quillevéré (photo) will be back on the Croisette with her second feature film, Suzanne [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Katell Quillévéré
film profile] (article), which will open the Critics’ Week, out of competition. The cast features Sara Forestier, Adèle Haenel and Belgian actor François Damiens for a film (announced as realistic, romantic and heartrending), which tells the story of a family and a love affair through the experience of a young woman. Produced by Move Movie, the film benefitted from a budget of 3.97 M€ including in particular an advance on receipts from the CNC and pre-purchases from Canal+ and Ciné+. Its French release will be handled by Mars Distribution and international sales by Films Distribution.

Yann Gonzalez’s first feature film, Les rencontres d’après minuit [+see also:
trailer
film profile] will be presented in a special screening. Played by Kate Moran, Niels Schneider, Nicolas Maury, Eric Cantona, Fabienne Babe, Alain-Fabien Delon and Béatrice Dalle, the film, whose screenplay was written by the director, tells the story of a couple, grown tired over the years, who decide, with the help of their “ whimsical and hypersexual” valet, to spice up their life by organizing an orgy in their home. Various stereotypes of guests sneak in: the Bitch, the Star, the Stud and the Teenager... Produced by Sedna Films with a budget of 1.32 M€, the feature film has not been pre-purchased by a TV channel, but has received an advance on receipts from the CNC. The French distributer and international vendor will be revealed soon.

It is also worth mentioning that France, via ASAP Films, coproduced another contender for the Grand Prix 2013 in the Critics’ Week: the Indian title The Lunchbox Dabba by Ritesh Batra.

(Translated from French)