Filming on Xavier Giannoli’s 9th feature film, Des rayons et des ombres, kicked off in March shrouded in the greatest secrecy, but we do have one or two details on this latest opus by the filmmaker, who was selected twice in competition in Cannes (The Singer [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Xavier Giannoli
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intervista: Xavier Giannoli
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Stealing focus in lead roles are Jean Dujardin (named Best Actor in Cannes 2011 and at the 2012 Oscars for The Artist [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Alice Winocour
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Written by the director in league with Jacques Fieschi (awarded the 2022 César for Best Adaptation thanks to Lost Illusions, nominated in the same category in 2017 and thrice for Best Screenplay in 1993, 1996 and 1999) and Patrick Godeau, the story follows Jean and Otto, a French newspaperman and a young German Francophile who are fighting for peace in Europe. Jean’s daughter, Corinne, is launching a brilliant acting career in the film world, but war breaks out and France is occupied. The two friends have a major role to play in this new France. Jean becomes a big press baron and an ardent advocate of collaboration with the occupying forces, while Otto becomes the Reich’s ambassador in Paris. Corinne, meanwhile, finds herself thrown into the lion’s pit…

Des rayons et des ombres is being produced by Olivier Delbosc on behalf of Curiosa Films and by Patrick Godeau for Waiting For Cinema, in co-production with France 3 Cinéma. The movie notably enjoys support from the CNC (via an advance on receipts) as well as from the Ile-de-France Region. The 75-day film shoot will last until July, with Christophe Beaucarne heading up photography. Set design is entrusted to Riton Dupire-Clément (awarded 2022’s César in his speciality for Lost Illusions), while world sales and distribution in France will fall to Gaumont.

For the record, Curiosa Films are notably overseeing post-production on Claire Denis’ Le cri des gardes and are wrapping filming today on Olivier Assayas’ Mage du Kremlin (read our article).