25/02/2014 - Zacharie Chasseriaud, Gustave Kervern and Corinne Masiero star in Eric Martin and Emmanuel Caussé’s film, a 3B production shooting in March

After getting themselves noticed with their feature debut No Pasaran in 2009, Eric Martin and Emmanuel Caussé will begin shooting Simon some time in March, with a strong cast that includes Zacharie Chasseriaud (The Giants [+see also:
film review
trailer
making of
interview: Bouli Lanners
film profile]; he can also be seen in theatres from 9 April in The Good Life [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Jean Denizot
film profile]), Gustave Kervern (popular at the Berlinale for his performance in In the Courtyard [+see also:
trailer
interview: Philippe Martin
film profile], which comes out on 23 April in French cinemas) and Corinne Masiero (nominated for the César Award for Best Actress in 2013 for Louise Wimmer [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile], and also seen at her best in Rust & Bone [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Jacques Audiard
interview: Jacques Audiard
film profile], among other performances).

Written by the directorial duo together with Simon David, the storyline focuses on a 17-year-old boy with lung cancer: “Two years ago, I was struck down with Ewing’s sarcoma like a suburban house crushed by a falling plane. I had more treatments and operations than the most hapless of Marvel’s heroes. But I’m a normal teenager, without any kind of superpower. I’ve got parents who put on a brave face, a little sister who is as unpleasant as a chemo session, and I live in a boring suburb. Alright – it’s true that I’m walking on a tightrope in the middle of a storm, and if I slip, it’ll probably kill me. But I love life... Putting one foot in front of the other is not enough for me any more. I’m going to leave a mark before I bow out gracefully.”

Produced by Muriel Merlin for 3B Productions, Simon is benefitting from a small budget of less than €1 million, including an advance on receipts from the CNC and backing from Sofica Cofinova. Filming will take place over six weeks in the Val-d’Oise and Ile-de-France regions. Distribution in France will be handled by Tadrart Films, and international sales are under negotiation.

For the record, 3B recently produced Camille Claudel 1915 [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Bruno Dumont
film profile] by Bruno Dumont and The Attack [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Ziad Doueiri
film profile] by Ziad Doueiri. 

(Translated from French)