Filming imminent on Marie Vernalde’s Kathy déménage
- India Hair, Suzanne de Baecque, Joseph Olivennes and Amandine Lourdel are starring in the director’s feature film debut, which is produced by Folle Allure Films
Monday 3 August will see principal photography kick off in Amiens on Kathy déménage, the first feature film by French director Marie Vernalde who turned heads with her 52-minute documentary La Dette as well as with her short fiction films Le Parloir (2006), Pour le meilleur (2013) and Pas de cadeau (2016).
The cast is led by India Hair (nominated for the Most Promising Actress César in 2017 and 2021, and recently acclaimed in Cannes in Marvelous Mornings and Parallel Stories), who’s joined by Suzanne de Baecque (notably seen in Summer Beats, Drifting Laurent and The Crime Is Mine), Joseph Olivennes (The Richest Woman in the World, No One Will Know) and comedian Amandine Lourdel (appearing in a feature film for the very first time).
Written by the director in collaboration with Raphaëlle Desplechin (nominated for the Best Original Screenplay César via On Tour and awarded the SACD Award during Critics’ Week thanks to Olga) and Ondine Lauriot dit Prévost (Two Pianos), the screenplay centres on Kathy whose life revolves around one single purpose: recovering the child support that she’s owed. She refuses to let it go: between her children’s needs and the bills piling up, every euro counts. But her ex has rebuilt his life and is doing everything he can to dodge his responsibilities. Kathy’s day-to-day life begins to falter. With her back against the wall, she’s forced to find the strength required to take back control of her life and forge her own path towards autonomy…
Kathy déménage is being produced by Lucie Fichot for Folle Allure Films (whose credits include Fario, which was unveiled in Locarno’s Filmmakers of the Present section), in co-production with France 3 Cinéma. Pre-purchased by Canal+, Ciné+ OCS and France Télévisions, the feature also enjoys support from Pictanovo (Hauts-de-France region), an advance on receipts from the CNC, and further backing from Procirep-Angoa, the Bourgogne Franche-Comté region (via development support) and the Arras Film Festival (where the project won last year’s main Development Grant).
The 28-day shoot will run until 11 September in Amiens, with Guillaume Schiffman (nominated for the Oscar and the César in his field via The Artist, and nominated a further four times at the Césars) serving as director of photography. Distribution in French cinemas will be handled by ARP Sélection.
(Translated from French)
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