Tuesday 14 January has seen filming kick off on Jean Valjean, Éric Besnard’s 10th feature film after Ca$h [+leggi anche:
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For the lead role, Gadebois is once again turning to Grégory Gadebois (awarded 2012’s Best Newcomer César for Angel & Tony [+leggi anche:
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Joining him in the cast are Bernard Campan (nominated for 2003’s Best Actor César thanks to Beautiful Memories [+leggi anche:
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Written by Éric Besnard, the story follows an encounter between two men, between extreme hardship and gentle benevolence, and between a miserable man and a righteous man… In the peaceful village of Digne, there’s a rumour that a dangerous man has entered the area. On the verge of sleeping outside, the latter knocks on the door of a small house. Jean Valjean thinks he’ll be rejected, lost after spending 19 years in prison. But against all odds, Bienvenu invites him in for supper and offers him a bed. Despite the convict’s lingering mistrust, humanity seems to return to him, beneath his suffering…

Jean Valjean is being produced by Clément Miserez and Matthieu Warter for Radar Films, in co-production with France 3 Cinéma. Pre-purchased by Ciné+/OCS and HBO Max, the feature film also enjoys support from the SOFICA companies Entourage and Cinécap. The 34-day film shoot will take place in the Sud region of France, in Luberon’s regional nature park, with Laurent Dailland (nominated for the 1999 and 2010 Césars in his speciality) heading up photography. Distribution in France will fall to Warner Bros.