Avalanche of European films
Four French features, the latest film by German director Wim Wenders, a British horror film, a Spanish comedy and a star animation co-produced by the UK: in total, 8 European films are knocking at the door of French cinema today, in a strong position up against a single 100% American release another made in Indonesia.
From a French point of view there is specialist at the box-office in the shape of Coline Serreau with his new comedy Saint-Jacques... La Mecque with a cast including Artus de Penguern, Muriel Robin and Jean-Pierre Darroussin. Released on 428 copies by UGC Distribution, this production by Téléma retraces the misadventures of two brothers and sister obliged to make a pilgrimage in order to fulfil an inheritance. Also on the bill on Wednesday, after a good screening in competition at the recent Festival of San Sebastian (read le compte-rendu ), Je ne suis pas là pour être aimé by Stéphane Brizé with Patrick Chesnais and Anne Consigny has a total print release of 94 from Rezo Films. The last film by Richard Dembo (who died in November 2004), La maison de Nina with Agnès Jaoui and Charles Berling sets out with 140 prints (TFM Distribution ), while ID Distribution has a more discreet release of 6 prints for pour A travers la forêt by Jean-Paul Civeyrac.
The diversity of Europeanproduction can be found too this week in French cinemas. Leading the charge is the auteur Don't come knocking from German Wim Wenders with Sam Shepard, Jessica Lange and Tim Roth. In official competition at Cannes (read la critique), a feature distributed by Océan Films with 148 prints. For its part the rising French distributor, La Fabrique de Films, lays 144 copies on the terrifying The descent from British Neil Marshall, screen out of competition at Venice (see news ). And Spanish cinema will be there with 10 prints from Limelight of 20 centimètres by Ramon Salazar with Monica Cervera, Pablo Puyol and Rossy De Palma. Nut the most anticipated release, ten days before the school holidays, is without the American-British production Wallace et Gromit : the mystery of the were-rabbit by Nick Park and Steve Box which can count on a massive 575 prints (UIP).
(Translated from French)
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