Téchiné, Klifa and Miller for UGC International

29/04/2005

Catherine Deneuve, Emmanuelle Béart, Gérard Lanvin, Miou Miou and Géraldine Pailhas: The Hero of the Family by Thierry Klifa promises to be a top-drawer dramatic comedy and figures on the Cannes line-up of UGC International. With a budget of around 12 million euros and produced by UGC Images, the second feature by the former cinema reporter, following A Lifetime to Wait For You (2004 – 865,000 tickets France) starts filming in October, to be delivered in Spring 2006.
Also on the slate of the international sales company, headed by Said Ben Said, is the new project by André Téchiné, The Angel’s Combat which follows the misadventures of a homosexual Marseilles police officer and also that of Claude Miller who has adapted with Natalie Carter the book A Secret by Philippe Grimbert. The book reveals the story of a man, an only son, who invents a brother, a tyrannical ghost who haunted his childhood. In a family ring full of silence and guilt, the narrator will discover a less flowery and peaceful past that he expected and a heavy disturbing secret.

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The UGC International’s line-up also includes The Council of Stone by Guillaume Nicloux based on the best-seller by Jean-Christophe Grangé (Purple Rivers, Empire of wolves). With a headline cast of Monica Bellucci and Thomas Kretschmann, this 22 million thriller is being produced by Yves Marmion for UGC Images with a German co-producer and will be shot in September, with distribution envisaged in 2006. Adapted by Stéphane Cabel (writer of Pact of wolves), the film follows the adventures of a martial arts champion and expert on predatory animals who adopts a boy of 5. But a car accident leaves the boy in a coma and a mysterious German doctor leads the young woman to Mongolia where she will uncover a dreadful plot.
Several other titles, in particular French comedies, complete the Cannes UGC International showcase, among them Locked out by Albert Dupontel (in post-production), My little finger told me by Pascal Thomas with Catherine Frot and André Dussollier, and also The hypocondriac by Gérard Bitton and Michel Munz (writers of The truth if I lie 1 and 2 and directors of Ah! If only I was rich).