18/04/2007

The Cannes Film Festival (May 18-28) sidebar section Directors’ Fortnight – whose full programme of its 39th edition (May 17-27) will be unveiled at a press conference on May 3 – has announced the selection of Après Lui [+see also:
trailer
film profile] by young French director Gaël Morel. Catherine Deneuve heads the bill.

Morel (34) began his cinematic career in 1994 with a role in André Techiné’s The Wild Reeds and made his directorial feature debut (Full Speed) in 1996. He followed with Under Another Sky (2002) and The Clan [+see also:
trailer
film profile] (2004).

Co-scripted by the director and Christophe Honoré (Inside Paris [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile]), the film explores the tragic consequences of a family drama.

Unable to mourn the loss of her son in a car accident, Camille (Deneuve) turns for comfort to his best friend Franck (Thomas Dumerchez, acclaimed for his role in The Clan and Paris, je t’aime). The troubled relationship distances those around her as Camille’s family and friends cannot understand her attraction to Franck, which goes against her moralistic middle-class upbringing. Franck is also aware of the dangers of her obsession.

Après Lui co-stars Guy Marchand, Elodie Bouchez, Elie Medeiros and Luis Rego.

Produced by Laurent Lavolé and Isabelle Pragier for Gloria Films, the €4.2m film was funded by CNC advances on receipts, a co-production by Rhône-Alpes Cinéma and pre-sales by de Canal + et Ciné Cinéma.

Après Lui is being sold internationally by Films Distribution and opens in French cinemas on May 23 through 20th Century Fox

(Translated from French)