21/01/2015 - Wild Bunch is releasing Louis-Julien Petit’s social comedy in 171 theatres; the Franco-Chinese animated film 108 Rois-Démons is also hitting screens

Discount [+see also:
trailer
film profile], the feature debut by Louis-Julien Petit, which won the Audience Award at the Angoulême Film Festival, features among the 14 new releases arriving in French theatres this Wednesday, in the shadow of the national blockbuster Taken 3 [+see also:
trailer
film profile] by Olivier Megaton (EuropaCorp Distribution in over 520 cinemas) and the English movie The Theory of Everything [+see also:
trailer
film profile] by James Marsh (which has garnered five Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Actress – UPI across more than 200 screens).

A social comedy starring Corinne Masiero, Olivier Barthelemy, Pascal Demolon, Sarah Suco, M’Barek Belkouk and Zabou Breiman, among others, Discount has won over the critics with its generosity, its freshness, and its blend of realistic drama and modest humour. Written by the director together with Samuel Doux, the story revolves around the employees at a discount supermarket, who, in order to fight back against the installation of self-service checkouts that threaten their jobs, secretly create their own “alternative discount store” by salvaging products that would otherwise have gone to waste.

“I wanted to make a movie about the positive consequences that the financial crisis could have for people, about the mutual assistance and the solidarity that can stem from it, featuring characters who would take charge of their own destinies,” explains Louis-Julien Petit. “I wanted to depict a micro-society under pressure in the film. A society in crisis is extremely unforgiving and individualistic, but while I wanted to show that aspect, above all I endeavoured to highlight the way people can withstand all the humiliations and the contempt, thanks to solidarity, friendship and humour.” 

Produced by Elemiah, Discount was co-produced by France 3 Cinéma, Orange Studio and Pictanovo. Sold abroad by Other Angle Pictures, it is distributed in France by Wild Bunch in 171 theatres.

Today also sees Gebeka Films release 105 copies of Pascal Morelli’s successful and highly original Franco-Belgian-Luxembourgish animated co-production, 108 Rois-Démons. Adapted from the classic Chinese adventure novel Water Margin, the film (staged by Same Player) delves into the 12^th century, and follows the paths of a young prince, an old monk and a pint-sized beggar, who all take up the fight against the demon kings who are terrorising the entire country. 

Another Franco-Luxembourgish-Belgian co-production is coming out today: the film noir Disparue en hiver by Christophe Lamotte, which has a cast including Kad Merad, Géraldine Pailhas and Lola Créton (read the article – Rezo Films in 86 cinemas). 

Also of note is Someone You Love [+see also:
trailer
film profile] by Danish director Pernille Fischer Christensen (revealed last year at Berlin – read the review – Sophie Dulac Distribution across 16 screens), the Franco-Israeli comedy-drama Rendez-vous à Atlit by Shirel Amitay (starring Géraldine Nakache, Judith Chemla and Yaël Abecassis – Ad Vitam in 50 theatres), the Franco-Russian co-production Marussia by Eva Pervolovici (Hévadis Films), the thriller Léa, un ange dans ma maison by Jacques-Hervé Fichet (Qasar M4 Prod) and the documentary La sonate des spectres by Ivan Heidsieck (Les Films du Saint-André-des-Arts).

(Translated from French)