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PRODUCTION France

Prague shoot for Fusée’s Philibert

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Shooting started yesterday at Barrandov Studios on French swashbuckling parody Philibert. Produced by Mandarin Cinema and Gaumont, Sylvain Fusée’s debut feature stars Belgian actor Jérémie Renier (soon to be seen in François Ozon’s Potiche [+see also:
trailer
film profile
]
), Alexandre Astier (LOL [+see also:
trailer
interview: Christa Théret
film profile
]
), Manu Payet (The Perfect Date [+see also:
trailer
film profile
]
) and Élodie Navarre (State Affairs [+see also:
trailer
film profile
]
).

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Scripted by Jean-François Halin (nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay Cesar 2007 for OSS 117: Cairo, Nest of Spies [+see also:
trailer
film profile
]
) and Karine Angeli (co-screenwriter on The Brice Man [+see also:
trailer
film profile
]
), the film opens in Brittany in 1550. Philibert, a robust lad and eldest son of an artichoke farmer, stands out from the other boys in the village. Idealistic and ingenuous, he foresees for himself a glorious future in artichokes and is saving his virginity for an as-yet-unknown woman chosen for him by God.

Before he dies, his father tells him that he isn’t his real parent. Philibert’s real father was a gentleman murdered in the most cowardly way by a man from Burgundy who is recognisable by a rose-shaped strawberry birthmark on his neck. With a pouch full of ideals and artichokes, Philibert leaves his village and gallops towards Burgundy, accompanied by Martin, his rather deceitful manservant.

Philibert’s courage, kindness, physical and moral purity will thus be severely tested when faced with the baseness and venality of villains and the temptation of women each more lustful than the last.

Philibert is produced for around €12m by Nicolas and Eric Almayer for Mandarin Cinéma and Sidonie Dumas and Christophe Riandée for Gaumont. The film’s budget includes co-production support from M6 Films and a pre-acquisition from Canal +.

The eight-and-a-half-week shoot will take place almost entirely in Prague (with executive production by Okko Production). Gaumont will handle French distribution (expected release date: April 6, 2011) and international sales.

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(Translated from French)

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