Léa Domenach has been shooting A Man’s Skin, her second feature film after Bernadette (nominated for the Best First Film César and Lumière in 2024), since 18 September.

The cast stars Claire Pommet (nominated for the 2024 Best Newcomer Lumière for Spirit of Ecstasy and likewise acclaimed for Colours of Time), legendary actress Catherine Deneuve (who’s reuniting with the filmmaker after Bernadette, which won her a Best Actress Lumière nomination in 2024, and who also recently graced Marcello Mio), Karin Viard (named Best Actress at the 2000 Césars and Best Supporting Actress in 2003 and 2019, and recently seen in Last Breath), Stefan Crépon (nominated for the Best Newcomer César and Lumière awards in 2023 via Peter von Kant, and hitting screens next year in Species and Chercheurs) and Louis Peres (For Night Will Come, Honey Cigar). They’re joined by Eddy de Pretto (next year in Vigilante), Melha Bedia (Not All Men But…), Laurent Stocker (awarded the 2008 Best Newcomer César and soon in La petite cuisine de Mehdi), Estéban (soon in Vade Retro), Gilbert Melki (seen in Not On My Watch and in the Kaboul Kitchen series) and Paul de Saint Sernin.

Written by the director and Clémence Dargent (following their collaboration on Bernadette) based on Hubert and Zanzim’s graphic novel of the same name, the story takes us back to 1480 or thereabouts. As Princess Blanche is getting ready to marry the handsome prince from the neighbouring kingdom, her father decides to marry her off to his vulgar army chief, Melchior. But then her godmother reveals she possesses a mysterious "skin" which, when worn, will turn Blanche into a man and will allow her to get to know her future husband incognito…

A Man’s Skin is being produced by Antoine Rein and Fabrice Goldstein on behalf of Karé Productions, by Alain Attal for Trésor Films in co-production with France 3 Cinéma, and by Belgian firm Umedia. Pre-purchased by Disney+, HBO and France Télévisions, the feature film also enjoys support from the Occitanie region and from the SOFICA companies La Banque Postale Image, Cofimage, Cinéaxe and Palatine Étoile. The seven-week film shoot will unfold in Île-de-France and Occitanie until November, with Elin Kirschfink heading up photography. The film’s music will be composed by Pomme, Eddy de Pretto and Bryce Dessner.

World sales will be steered by Playtime and distribution in French cinemas by Diaphana.