16/10/2013 - Wild Bunch releases Albert Dupontel’s much appreciated film in 416 theatres. Big release too for T.S. Spivet and The Scapegoat

Albert Dupontel, an actor-director with an offbeat and energetic sense of humour, close to the spirit of cartoons, often caustic and sometime trashy, made himself an original place amongst French directors since his cult film Bernie (nominated for the César 1997 for Best First Feature), which never kept him from acting in other directors’ movies (nominated for the César for Best Actor in 2000 and 2009, appreciated last year in Cannes in Le grand soir) [+see also:
trailer
film profile].

With his new film, 9 Month Stretch [+see also:
trailer
film profile] (photo – read the article - production ADCB Films - sales Elle Driver), screened in San Sebastian and launched today in 416 cinemas by Wild Bunch Distribution, Dupontel gets the backing of critics and could well broaden his audience. He partly owes the success to his association with a very funny Sandrine Kiberlain in the role of a stuck up judge who finds herself pregnant after an accidental alcoholic adventure with a dangerous and antisocial convict. An improbable but very efficient duo at the heart of what the actor-director describes as a “deviant comedy of manners”: “I try to talk about the ills of our society, but with humour (sometimes biting humour!). As time goes by, I increasingly feel that our entirety society is on the wrong track. From this dramatic realisation, I try to find cause for laughter and share it with the public.” It is also worth noting that Bouli Lanners makes an appearance as well as cameos by Terry Gilliam, Yolande Moreau, Gaspar Noé, Jan Kounen and Ray Cooper.

Two other national features released this Wednesday have great ambitions: the sumptuous 3D English language film The Young and Prodigious T.S. Spivet [+see also:
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making of
film profile] by Jean-Pierre Jeunet (Gaumont in 639 cinemas) and the Franco-Belgian-Luxembourg coproduction The Scapegoat [+see also:
trailer
film profile] by Nicolas Bary (read the article – based on the novel by Daniel Pennac distributed by Pathé in 328 theatres).

Amongst the many new releases this week, two European titles featured at the Cannes Film Festival 2013 stand out: the Italian-French coproduction Salvo [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Fabio Grassadonia and Anton…
interview: Sara Serraiocco
film profile] by duo Fabio Grassadonia - Antonio Piazza, winner at the Critics’ Week (Bodega Films on 20 screens) and Omar by Palestinian director Hany Abu-Assad, Prix of the Jury Un Certain Regard (Pretty Pictures on 70 screens).

(Translated from French)