03/02/2022 - The French sales agent will notably throw its weight behind Small, Slow but Steady in the Encounters showcase, and upcoming films from Kirill Serebrennikov and Valeria Bruni Tedeschi

Building on the momentum of the Sundance Film Festival, where one of the titles in its line-up, Carlota Pereda’s Piggy [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Carlota Pereda
film profile], caused a stir, French international sales agent Charades is readying itself for intense activity at the European Film Market (taking place online from 10 to 17 February), unfolding within the 72nd Berlinale.

The team composed of Yohann Comte, Carole Baraton and Pierre Mazars will be negotiating on behalf of a film gracing the festival showcase in the form of Shô Miyake’s Small, Slow but Steady [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile], which will enjoy its world premiere within the Encounters competition on 13 February. Produced by Japan’s Nagoya Broadcasting Network alongside French firm Comme des Cinémas, the feature film revolves around Keiko, a young female boxer born with a hearing impairment. Boxing is a real challenge for her, but the club is like a family to her. After winning two fights, however, an insidious fear grows inside of her, while the club is on the verge of collapse.

Stealing particular focus among the four new works joining the line-up is Tchaikovsky's Wife [+see also:
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film profile] by Russia’s Kirill Serebrennikov (who competed in Cannes in 2018 and 2021 thanks to Leto [+see also:
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interview: Ilya Stewart
film profile] and Petrov’s Flu [+see also:
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trailer
film profile]). The story follows Antonina Miliukova, a brilliant and beautiful young woman born into the 19th century Russian aristocracy. She could have anything she desires but she is obsessed with marrying Piotr Tchaïkovski, whom she falls in love with the minute she hears his music. The only reason the composer finally agrees to their union is to put an end to the rumours circulating about him. Feeling no love for her and holding her responsible for his misfortunes and breakdowns, Tchaïkovski tries to rid himself of his wife in brutal fashion. Consumed by her feelings for him, Antonina decides to stick it out and to do anything it takes to stay by his side. Humiliated, disgraced and rejected, she slowly descends into madness… Produced by Russian outfit Hype Films alongside French firms Charades Productions and Logical Pictures, and Switzerland’s Bord Cadre Films, with the support of Kinoprime Foundation and Good Chaos’ Mike Goodridge as executive producer, this feature film will be pre-sold at the EFM on the basis of a promo reel.

Presales are also set to kick off on another title in post-production: Valeria Bruni Tedeschi’s Forever Young [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Valeria Bruni Tedeschi
film profile]. Starring Nadia Tereszkiewicz, Louis Garrel, Vassili Schneider and Suzanne Lindon, the film takes us back to the 1980s in Paris where a bevy of young actors are accepted into the famous theatre school Les Amandiers, directed by Patrice Chéreau. This feature-length movie is produced by Agat Films and Ad Vitam alongside Italy’s BiBi Films.

The other two newcomers in post-production, now joining Charades’ line-up, are the American film Sanctuary by Zachary Wigon (starring Margaret Qualley and Christopher Abbott) and Romantique by French director Thibault Segouin (article - starring Alex Lutz, Golshifteh Farahani and Lucie Debay).

Stand-out market premières, meanwhile, include Piggy by Carlota Pereda, and four French films: The Kitchen Brigade [+see also:
trailer
film profile] by Louis-Julien Petit (due for release in France on 21 March), The Test [+see also:
trailer
film profile] by Emmanuel Poulain-Arnaud (well-received by critics upon its release in France on 29 December), Her Way [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] by Cécile Ducrocq (which scooped an award in Tallin and earned Laure Calamy a nomination for this year’s Best Actress César) and Coline Abert’s documentary Last Dance.

(Translated from French)