Monday 2 June saw filming kick off on The Birthday Party, Léa Mysius’ third feature after Ava (awarded the SACD Prize in Cannes’ Critics’ Week 2017 and garnering nominations for Best First Film at the Louis-Delluc Awards and for Best Supporting Actress at the 2018 Césars) and The Five Devils (screened in the 2022 Directors’ Fortnight).

The cast is led by Bastien Bouillon (crowned Best Newcomer at the 2023 Césars for The Night of the 12th, nominated in this year’s Best Supporting Role category for The Count of Monte-Cristo, recently well-received in Leave One Day, and hitting cinemas on 23 July in Aux jours qui viennent and again in November in The Incredible Snow Woman), Hafsia Herzi (awarded this year’s Best Actress César for Borgo, nominated in 2024 for The Rapture and awarded the Marcello Mastroianni Prize in Venice 2007 for The Secret of the Grain), Italy’s Monica Bellucci (The Man Who Sold His Skin, Paradis Paris) and youngster Twaba El Gharchy.

They’re joined by Benoît Magimel (named Best Actor in Cannes 2001 for The Piano Teacher and awarded the Best Actor César and Lumière trophies in 2022 and 2023 for Peaceful and Pacifiction), Paul Hamy (The Ornithologist, 9 Fingers, Suzanne) and Alane Delhaye (Li’l Quinquin, Lads).

Adapted by the director from Laurent Mauvignier’s novel The Birthday Party, the story takes us to La Bassée where there isn’t very much left: a small town and a few villages, one of which is home to Bergogne (Bastien Bouillon), his wife Nora (Hafsia Herzi) and their daughter Ida (Twaba El Gharchy), alongside their artist-neighbour Cristina (Monica Bellucci) who’s been living there for years. They’re springing into action, getting ready to celebrate Nora’s fortieth birthday. But just as the party draws nearer, strangers begin to prowl around the village…

Produced by Jean-Louis Livi on behalf of F Comme Film, in co-production with France 3 Cinéma, Division and Belgium’s Beside Productions, The Birthday Party has been pre-purchased by Canal+, Ciné+ and France Télévisions and also enjoys support from the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region alongside the SOFICA companies Cineventure, Cinemage, Cofinova, Entourage and Cineaxe. Filming will continue until 15 July with Paul Guilhaume (nominated for this year’s Oscar in his speciality via Emilia Pérez and awarded the César following two nominations in 2021 and 2022) heading up photography. The film’s music will be composed by Florencia Di Concilio (nominated for the 2021 Best Score Lumière via Calamity, A Childhood of Martha Jane Cannary) while its release in French cinemas falls to Le Pacte.

For the record, F Comme Film were recently responsible for À bicyclette by Mathias Mlekuz and Boléro by Anne Fontaine.