Ile-de-France backs Une exécution ordinaire
Eight film projects, including two documentaries, are included in the fourth 2008 selection by the Ile-de-France Regional Support Fund for Technical Film and Audiovisual Industries.
Among them is Une exécution ordinaire – the debut directorial feature by writer Marc Dugain – which is set to receive €402,000 in funding. The author previously adapted his debut novel The Officers’ Ward for the big screen. The film – directed by François Dupeyron – was presented in official competition at the 2001 Cannes Film Festival.
Une exécution ordinaire – which is set to start shooting in January 2009 – will star André Dussollier and Marina Hands (Best Actress Cesar in 2007 for Lady Chatterley [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile]). The cast is also expected to include Edouard Baer and Denis Podalydès.
Une exécution ordinaire is adapted by Dugain from his book and the plot begins a few weeks before Stalin’s death. The latter – who is preparing to deport Russia’s Jews – has his personal doctor executed.
In order to relieve his physical suffering, he secretly calls on a young healer whom he manipulates, persuading her to leave the love of her life: her husband. But the broken and dignified couple survive the episode and outlive the dictator.
The film is produced by Jean-Louis Livi for F Comme Film for a projected budget of €8.4m. This includes co-production support from France 3 Cinéma and StudioCanal (who are also handling domestic distribution and international sales) and pre-sales from Canal +. Shooting will last 50 days.
F Comme Film currently have three titles in post-production : Je suis heureux que ma mère soit vivante (“I’m Happy that My Mother is Alive”) by Claude and Nathan Miller (see news); Francis Huster’s Un homme et son chien (“A Man and His Dog”, to be released on January 14, 2009); and Alain Resnais’ Les herbes folles (“Wild Grasses”, see news).
The Ile-de-France region also chose to grant €402,000 to Jan Kounen’s Chanel & Stravinsky: The Secret Story (currently shooting and starring Anna Mougalis and Mads Mikkelsen - produced by Eurowide Film - see news); and Emmanuel Mouret’s Fais-moi plaisir (“Give Me Pleasure”, produced by Moby Dick Films - see news).
A sum of €360,000 will go to Steve Suissa’s Mensch (produced by ARP - see news); €400,000 to Brigitte Sy’s debut feature Les mains libres (“Free Hands”, produced by Mezzanine Films); and €384,000 to Serge Elissalde’s animated film project Le jour des corneilles (“The Day of the Crows”, a majority French production by Finalement, co-produced by Belgium’s Vivifilms and Luxembourg’s Mélusine Productions).
Finally, among the selected documentaries, €63,000 has been granted to Pierre Carles’ Fin de concession (CP Productions) and €72,000 to Clarisse Hahn’s Kurdishlover (Les Films du présent).
(Translated from French)
Did you enjoy reading this article? Please subscribe to our newsletter to receive more stories like this directly in your inbox.