29/11/2016 - Marc Dugain’s film stars Lambert Wilson, Olivier Gourmet, Igor van Dessel, Maya Sansa, Kacey Mottet-Klein and Anamaria Vartolomei

Filming wrapped last Thursday in Belgium on The Royal Exchange [+see also:
trailer
interview: Anamaria Vartolomei
film profile], the second fictional feature film by Marc Dugain after An Ordinary Execution (nominated for the Louis-Delluc award for Best Debut Film in 2010). But this time, the novelist (who has written La Chambre des officiers, among others, which François Dupeyron brought to life on the big screen in 2001) has not adapted one of his own books, but one by Chantal Thomas (one of whose previous works, Les Adieux à la reine, became a great cinematic success in 2012 thanks to Benoît Jacquot).

The cast features Lambert Wilson (nominated for the César for Best Actor three times, including in 2011 for Of Gods and Men [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Xavier Beauvois
film profile]; currently appearing in The Odyssey [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile]), Belgian actor Olivier Gourmet (who won the award for Best Performance at Cannes in 2002 for Le Fils, and was nominated for the César for Best Actor in 2012 for The Minister [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Pierre Schoeller
film profile]), young Igor van Dessel, Italian actress Maya Sansa (nominated for the David di Donatello award for Best Actress in 2003 and 2004 for Good Morning, Night [+see also:
trailer
interview: Marco Bellocchio, director …
film profile] and Une romance italienne; and won the David di Donatello for Best Supporting Actress in 2013 for Dormant Beauty [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Marco Bellocchio
film profile]), Swiss actor Kacey Mottet Klein (nominated for the César for Most Promising Actor in 2013 for Sister [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Kacey Mottet Klein
interview: Ursula Meier
film profile], also acclaimed in Keeper [+see also:
film review
trailer
making of
interview: Guillaume Senez ­
interview: Kacey Mottet Klein
film profile] and Being 17 [+see also:
film review
trailer
Q&A: André Téchiné
interview: Kacey Mottet Klein
film profile]), Anamaria Vartolomei (nominated for the Lumière award for Most Promising Actress in 2012 for My Little Princess [+see also:
trailer
interview: Anamaria Vartolomei
film profile]), Catherine Mouchet, Thomas Mustin, Vincent Londez and Patrick Descamps.

An adaptation by Marc Dugain and Chantal Thomas of the book of the same name by the latter, the screenplay for The Royal Exchange plunges us into 1721. Under the pretext of wanting to consolidate peace, Philippe II, Duke of Orleans, then Regent of France (Olivier Gourmet), proposes a marriage between the heir to the French throne, Louis XV, aged 11, and the youngest daughter of the King of Spain, Anna Maria Victoria, aged four, to the King of Spain, Philippe V (Lambert Wilson). And he doesn’t stop there: he also proposes the hand of his daughter, Miss de Montpensier, aged 12, in marriage to the prince of Asturias, the heir to the Spanish throne, to strengthen their positions and definitively end the conflict between the two kingdoms. The reaction in Madrid is one of enthusiasm, and things are quickly set in motion. The exchange of princesses took place at the beginning of 1722, with great pomp, on a small island in the middle of the Bidasoa river, which acts as a border between the two countries. Everything seems to be going according to plan, but nothing will end up going to plan…

Produced by Patrick André and Charles Gillibert for Parisian company High Sea Production and by Geneviève Lemal for Belgian company Scope Pictures, The Royal Exchange is co-produced by France 3 Cinéma. Also pre-purchased by Canal+ and Ciné+, the film has notably received support from Wallimage and the Cofinova and SofiTVciné SOFICAs. Filming took place entirely in Belgium from 3 October to 24 November with Gilles Porte at the helm as director of photography. The film will be released in France by Ad Vitam and international sales are being handled by Films Distribution.

(Translated from French)