Alejandro Jodorowsky’s Viaje esencial scoops a CNC advance on receipts
- The French film centre is also supporting upcoming films by Yolande Zauberman, Anne Fontaine, Eric Besnard, Boris Lojkine, Abd Al Malik, Antoine Raimbault and Gilles Balbastre
Eight projects have been selected in the fourth 2022 session of the CNC’s third and second advance on receipts committees (for fourth feature films and beyond, and for second and third feature films, respectively).
Stealing focus among them is Viaje esencial by Alejandro Jodorowsky. This movie marks the final chapter of the autobiographical trilogy which the French-Chilean filmmaker behind the legendary movies El Topo (1970), The Holy Mountain (1973) and Santa Sangre (1989) initiated with The Dance of Reality [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] and Endless Poetry [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] (presented in the 2013 and 2016 Directors’ Fortnight events). The project is steered by Nour Films Production.
An advance on receipts is also winging its way to Yolande Zauberman’s La Belle de Gaza, a documentary which will be the third instalment of a trilogy also comprising Would You Have Sex With an Arab? [+see also:
trailer
film profile] (screened in Venice’s Orizzonti section in 2011) and M [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] (awarded the Special Jury Prize in Locarno 2018, as well as the Best Documentary César and Lumière awards in 2020). Production is overseen by Unité and Phobics.
The CNC is likewise lending support to Boléro which will be the 19th feature film by Anne Fontaine, whose filmography also includes Dry Cleaning (which scooped the Best Screenplay Prize in Venice 1997) and more recently Agnus Dei [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Lou de Laâge
film profile] (Sundance 2016), Reinventing Marvin [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] (gracing Venice’s Orizzonti line-up in 2017) and Night Shift [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Anne Fontaine
film profile] (screened out of competition at the 2020 Berlinale). Her new project, which has been in gestation for several years, revolves around the life of composer Maurice Ravel and, more specifically, the composition of the Bolero. Production is entrusted to Cinéfrance and Ciné-@.
An advance on receipts has also been granted to Louise Violet, which will be Éric Besnard’s 9th feature film. The story takes us back to 1889, in the wake of primary school teacher Louise Violet who is sent to a village in the French countryside to enforce Republic schooling (which is free, compulsory and secular). It’s a mission which secures her unpopularity, among children and parents alike… Production is steered by Nord Ouest Films.
Standing tall amongst the successful films in the second committee is L’histoire de Souleymane, which will be Boris Lojkine’s third feature film after Hope [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Boris Lojkine
film profile] (selected for Cannes’ Critics’ Week 2014) and Camille [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Boris Lojkine
film profile] (screened in Locarno’s Piazza Grande in 2019), and which is produced by Unité.
Likewise receiving support from the CNC is Furcy which will be Abd Al Malik’s second feature film after May Allah Bless France [+see also:
trailer
film profile] (nominated for the 2015 Best First Film César). Adapted by the director, alongside Étienne Comar and Mohammed Aïssaoui, from the latter’s book L'Affaire de l'esclave Furcy, the movie will chart the legal battle of a slave from Reunion Island who tries to recover his freedom in the first half of the 19th century. Production is entrusted to Jerico Films and Arches Films.
Another second feature film among the lucky few is the political thriller Une affaire de principe by Antoine Raimbault, a director unearthed via Conviction [+see also:
trailer
film profile] (nominated for 2020’s Best First Film Lumière). Production is entrusted to Memento Films Production and Agat Films.
Last but not least, a second feature-length documentary project has also been singled out for assistance: Ceux qui tiennent la laisse by Gilles Balbastre (nominated for 2013’s Best Documentary César thanks to The New Watchdogs [+see also:
trailer
film profile]). Production is steered by Temps Noir.
(Translated from French)
Did you enjoy reading this article? Please subscribe to our newsletter to receive more stories like this directly in your inbox.
