03/12/2008

European films alternate between laughter and tears this week.

On the comedy side, Etienne Chatilliez’s highly anticipated Agathe Cléry [+see also:
trailer
film profile] is hitting screens. The story is simple but jarring, very much in the tradition of the director of Tatie Danielle (“Auntie Danielle”) and Tanguy.

The film – accompanied by a press campaign worthy of its star, the great Valérie Lemercier – includes musical numbers that defuse the dark social commentary. All the ingredients for success are there.

Produced by Produire à Paris and the director’s loyal partner Telema, Agathe Cléry is being launched by Alternative Films on 14 screens.

Italian film will bring its share of tears with Antonio Grimaldi’s Quiet Chaos [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Antonello Grimaldi
interview: Domenico Procacci
film profile], the story of a man (Nanni Moretti) who tries to cope with the death of his wife by re-establishing social and family ties. Based on Sandro Veronesi’s best-selling novel, the film features an enticing Franco-Italian cast that includes Moretti, Valeria Golino, Alessandro Gassman, Hippolyte Girardot, Charles Berling and Denis Podalydès.

Quiet Chaos was produced by Fandago, who have recently enjoyed immense success with Gomorrah [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Domenico Procacci
interview: Jean Labadie
interview: Matteo Garrone
film profile]. Cinéart are releasing the title on 11 screens in Wallonia and Flanders.

This week’s local release is Coquelicots (“Poppies”), by prolific director Philippe Blasband (whose previous film, The Colour of Words [+see also:
trailer
film profile], was released in 2006, and whose forthcoming title, Maternelle, has just finished shooting). On a not so beautiful Christmas night, three characters mistreated by life cross paths in a massage parlour.

The film is produced by Climax Films (Blasband’s partner, also producer of Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt’s work and Martin Provost’s Séraphine, and executive producer on Van Dormael’s forthcoming title), who are also distributing the title through the recently-created company Big Bang Distribution.

In the midst of a crisis in the domestic distribution of Belgian Francophone films, this move by the producer recalls Entre Chien et Loup’s creation of its distribution arm, Dreamtouch, last year. While the number of films increases, distributors who are prepared to back risky titles are becoming scarce, and they are unable to keep up with the tidal wave of new releases.

Faced with this deadlock, producers are launching into distribution activities, but the path appears to be full of pitfalls. The profession is currently considering the reform of certain systems, and the implementation of good practices that would lead to an improvement in the situation. As we wait for better days to come, Big Bang are releasing Coquelicots on five screens in Wallonia and Brussels.

The final European release in Flanders is Dutch director Martin Koolhoven’s Winter in Wartime [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile], which tells the story of a young boy who dreams of resistance during the winter of 1944.

(Translated from French)