EXCLUSIVE: Shooting imminent on Emmanuel Mouret’s Three Friends
- Camille Cottin, Sara Forestier, India Hair, Damien Bonnard, Grégoire Ludig and Vincent Macaigne star in the cast of this Moby Dick Films production sold by Pyramide International
Wednesday 27 September will see the first clapperboard slam on Three Friends, the 12th feature film by Emmanuel Mouret who’s a familiar face in Cannes (screening in Cannes Première in 2022 via Diary of a Fleeting Affair [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Emmanuel Mouret
film profile], in the 2020 official selection via Love Affair(s) [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Emmanuel Mouret
film profile] – which scooped the 2021 Best Film Lumière, as well as 13 César nominations that same year – and in the Directors’ Fortnight in 2004 and 2006), Venice (in the 2007 Giornate degli Autori line-up), Locarno (in competition in 2013 and on the Piazza Grande in 2011) and Toronto (in the Platform line-up in 2018).
Stand-out names gracing the cast of his new opus are Camille Cottin (nominated for 2016’s Best Newcomer César, known worldwide for the series Call My Agent! , notably well-received in Stillwater, currently touring cinemas in Toni [+see also:
trailer
film profile], and set to be seen in next year’s L’Empire and Ni chaînes ni maîtres), Sara Forestier (awarded the 2011 Best Actress César and nominated again for the same prize in 2014; also nominated as Best Supporting Actress in 2016 and 2020 for Standing Tall [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Emmanuelle Bercot
film profile] and Oh Mercy! [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Arnaud Desplechin
film profile], and toplining Le roman de Jim next year) and India Hair (nominated for the 2013 and 2021 Best Newcomer Césars via Camille Rewinds [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] and Fishlove [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile], at her best in this year’s Jeanne du Barry [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] and All To Play For [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Delphine Deloget
film profile], and set to be seen in 2024’s Planète B and Les barbares).
Likewise in on the action are Damien Bonnard (nominated for 2020 and 2022’s Best Actor Césars thanks to Les Misérables [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Ladj Ly
film profile] and The Restless [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Joachim Lafosse
film profile], seen in Venice via Poor Things [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Suzy Bemba
Q&A: Yorgos Lanthimos
film profile], hitting cinemas on 27 December in Edge of the Blade [+see also:
film review
interview: Vincent Perez
film profile] and next year in Le bonheur est pour demain, Reine mère, Niki and The Victoria System), Grégoire Ludig (Mandibles [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Quentin Dupieux
film profile], Keep An Eye Out [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile]) and Vincent Macaigne (nominated for 2022 and 2023’s Best Actor Césars via A Night Doctor [+see also:
trailer
interview: Elie Wajeman
film profile] and Diary of a Fleeting Affair, as well as in the category of Best Supporting Actor in 2018 and 2021, and hitting cinemas on 10 January in Bonnard, Pierre et Marthe [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Martin Provost
film profile]).
Written by Emmanuel Mouret and Carmen Leroi, the story sees Joan, who’s no longer in love, leave her partner Victor who’s the father of her daughter. Joan is convinced her decision is morally justified, but it comes back to bite her when Victor subsequently disappears, leaving her overwhelmed with guilt. Her best friend Alice, for her part, is an advocate for marriages of convenience, relationships devoid of love but built upon affection, which she finds more bearable than passionate love. But Joan’s friend Rebecca sees love as an adventure, and is involved in a secret relationship with Alice’s partner! These are three close women who are light years apart in their attitudes and moral beliefs. Three women who try to defend their ideas and assert their choices…
Three Friends is produced by Frédéric Niedermayer on behalf of Moby Dick Films (the director’s trusty partner in crime), in co-production with Arte France Cinéma and Auvergne Rhône-Alpes Cinéma. Pre-purchased by Canal+, Ciné+ and Arte, the feature film also enjoys support from the Auvergne Rhône-Alpes region and the SOFICA company Cofinova. The 37-day film shoot will run from 27 September to 16 November in Lyon and the surrounds, with Laurent Desmet (nominated for the 2019 and 2021 Césars in his speciality) heading up photography. Distribution in France and world sales are steered by Pyramide.
(Translated from French)
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