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RELEASES France

Can a magic potion alleviate the releases logjam?

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- Launched by SND, the 3D animated film Asterix: The Land of the Gods dominates a cinematic landscape brimming with 19 new releases

Can a magic potion alleviate the releases logjam?
Asterix: The Land of the Gods by Louis Clichy and Alexandre Astier

“It is the year 50 BC; Gaul is entirely occupied by the Romans… Entirely? Well, not exactly, because a village inhabited by indomitable Gauls is still resisting the invaders and will always do so.” This is a very familiar land that viewers will get the chance to revisit today with the release of the 3D animated film Asterix: The Land of the Gods [+see also:
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by Louis Clichy and Alexandre Astier (launched by SND across almost 650 screens), as it is the 14th film or cartoon adaptation of the series of comic books created by the Goscinny-Uderzo duo (which have sold 350 million copies in Europe). Despite its very impressive visual aspects and the quality of the screenplay, both of which succeed in breathing new life into the spirit of the franchise, the challenge faced by this Franco-Belgian co-production helmed by M6 Films, and boasting a €31 million budget, must nevertheless not be underestimated.

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Indeed, now it is the year 2014 AD, and there is a huge logjam on the cinema listings this week, with 19 new releases, including four films that were revealed at Cannes. Warner is bringing out The Search [+see also:
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Q&A: Michel Hazanavicius
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by Michel Hazanavicius in 240 theatres, which has been improved by a new edit that is 15 minutes shorter than the version screened in competition on the Croisette. Also hitting screens are the bloody Alleluia [+see also:
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interview: Fabrice Du Welz
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by Belgian director Fabrice du Welz, which shook up the Directors’ Fortnight (Carlotta Films in 10 cinemas); the endearing The Misunderstood [+see also:
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by Italy’s Asia Argento (read the review – unveiled in Un Certain Regard and distributed by Paradis Films across 38 screens); and the captivating feature debut Mercuriales [+see also:
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by Virgil Vernier (read the article), which was premiered in the ACID selection (Shellac in nine theatres).

Also of note in terms of French production is the moving A la vie [+see also:
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by Jean-Jacques Zilbermann (see the news), carried by the performances of French actress Julie Depardieu, Dutch actress Johanna ter Steege and Canadian actress Suzanne Clément (Le Pacte in 143 cinemas); Tiens-toi droite [+see also:
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by Katia Lewkowicz (read the articleWild Bunch Distribution across 111 screens); Mateo Falcone [+see also:
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by Eric Vuillard (Aloest Distribution in 20 theatres); Le rêve d'Icare by Costa Natsis (in one theatre courtesy of Les Films du Saint-André-des-Arts); and the documentary Salto mortale by Guillaume Kozakiewiez (Zeugma Films in seven cinemas).

European films of other nationalities are also very well represented, with the slick Calvary [+see also:
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interview: John Michael McDonagh
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by Irish director John Michael McDonagh (which was screened at Sundance and the Berlinale – read the review and watch the video interview – distributed by 20th Century Fox), the Serbian-Franco-Croatian co-production When Day Breaks [+see also:
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by Goran Paskaljevic (Mica Distribution), the animated title Solan and Ludvig: Christmas in Pinchcliffe [+see also:
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interview: Rasmus A. Sivertsen
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by Norwegian filmmaker Rasmus A Sivertsen (read the interviewLes Films du Préau) and two very impressive documentaries: Concerning Violence [+see also:
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by Sweden’s Göran Hugo Olsson (which was also selected last year at Sundance and Berlin – Happiness Distribution) and Master of the Universe [+see also:
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by Austrian director Marc Bauder (see the newsHéliotrope Films).

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(Translated from French)

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