16/09/2003

The actress Isabelle Huppert is preparing to take on a tough and complex new role. Shooting will be starting on the second feature length film by Christophe Honoré, called Ma mère, on October 13. The story is about a mother who initiates her son into the world of perversion, and it is an adaptation of the book by Georges Bataille. The cast also includes Luis Garrel (The Dreamers) and Emma de Caunes.

Following on from her work with Michael Haneke in The Pianist (2000) and her performance playing a prostitute in Ghost River by Olivier Dahan (2002), Isabelle Huppert is continuing her exploration of the shadowy side of human beings, with this part written by a maestro of the genre, Georges Bataille. He has often been called a “metaphysician of evil”, and in "Ma mère", published in 1955, he explored the darkest depths of eroticism. The strength of the story persuaded the director Christophe Honoré (17 Times Cécile Cassard) to adapt the work for the big screen.
After a deeply religious childhood, 17-year-old Pierre (Louis Garrel), is initiated into the world of perversity by his mother (Isabelle Huppert). It’s a dive head first into the world of orgies, ecstasy and sin, anguish and admiration for this woman who will end up killing herself. It’s yet another extreme role for the French actress who continues to rake in the prizes. On September 20, during the 51st edition of the San Sebastian Festival, she’ll be once again stepping up on stage, this time to receive the Lifetime "Donostia" Achievement Award, while on September 25 she’ll be picking up the Douglas Sirk Prize at the Hamburg Festival.
Ma mère is produced by Paolo Branco<7b> and his company Gemini Films (FR), and it will be filmed on the Spanish Canary Islands.

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