MK2 Films has acquired a collection of films and TV series directed by Bruno Dumont, the award-winning French director behind “Life of Jesus” and “Humanity.”
The acquisition, unveiled during Mipcom Cannes, covers the bulk of the director’s work, spanning eight films and TV series including “Li’l Quinquin,” which premiered at Cannes’ Directors’ Fortnight. MK2 Films will represent rights to some of these titles, in France and/or international markets, apart from a few titles like “Slack Bay” whose global rights are still handled by Memento International.
“Bruno Dumont is, of course, a major figure of contemporary cinema,” said Nathanaël Karmitz, MK2’s chairman of the executive board. Karmitz praised Dumont for the “originality of his unusual, unpredictable [films], veering from gravitas to some unnerving, comedic tangents.” He continued, “Iconoclastic and consistently courageous in its form, his work perfectly represents the free and ambitious cinema that we are proud to promote.
The acquisition, unveiled during Mipcom Cannes, covers the bulk of the director’s work, spanning eight films and TV series including “Li’l Quinquin,” which premiered at Cannes’ Directors’ Fortnight. MK2 Films will represent rights to some of these titles, in France and/or international markets, apart from a few titles like “Slack Bay” whose global rights are still handled by Memento International.
“Bruno Dumont is, of course, a major figure of contemporary cinema,” said Nathanaël Karmitz, MK2’s chairman of the executive board. Karmitz praised Dumont for the “originality of his unusual, unpredictable [films], veering from gravitas to some unnerving, comedic tangents.” He continued, “Iconoclastic and consistently courageous in its form, his work perfectly represents the free and ambitious cinema that we are proud to promote.
- 10/16/2023
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Hollywood actress Marion Cotillard is to play the role of the Snow Queen in French female auteur Lucile Hadzihalilovic’s next film ‘La tour de glace’.
‘La Tour de glace’ is expected to be the French director’s most ambitious film to date and will reteam Hadzihalilovic with ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ and ‘Inception’ star Cotillard.
Cotillard had starred in Hadzihalilovic’s 2004 film ‘Innocence’, as per ‘Variety’.
Co-written by Geoff Cox, ‘La tour de glace’ is set in the 1970s and follows Jeanne, a teenage girl who runs away from her orphanage located in a mountain village.
She flees to Paris with big dreams to fulfill and finds shelter in a warehouse which turns out to be used as a studio where ‘The Snow Queen’ is being filmed. The film’s star, Cristina, a beautiful woman in her 40s, takes Jeanne under her wing, exerting a dangerous and overpowering influence...
‘La Tour de glace’ is expected to be the French director’s most ambitious film to date and will reteam Hadzihalilovic with ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ and ‘Inception’ star Cotillard.
Cotillard had starred in Hadzihalilovic’s 2004 film ‘Innocence’, as per ‘Variety’.
Co-written by Geoff Cox, ‘La tour de glace’ is set in the 1970s and follows Jeanne, a teenage girl who runs away from her orphanage located in a mountain village.
She flees to Paris with big dreams to fulfill and finds shelter in a warehouse which turns out to be used as a studio where ‘The Snow Queen’ is being filmed. The film’s star, Cristina, a beautiful woman in her 40s, takes Jeanne under her wing, exerting a dangerous and overpowering influence...
- 7/6/2023
- by Agency News Desk
- GlamSham
After starring in Mona Achache’s “Little Girl Blue” which played at Cannes, Marion Cotillard will work with another daring French female auteur, Lucile Hadzihalilovic, on her next film “La tour de glace.”
The long-gestated film marks the first collaboration between Hadzihalilovic and Muriel Merlin, producer at 3B Productions. Hadzihalilovic’s follow up to “Earwig,” which won the jury prize at San Sebastian, “La Tour de glace” is expected to be the director’s most accessible and ambitious film to date. The movie will reteam Hadzihalilovic with Cotillard who had starred in her 2004 film “Innocence.”
Co-written by Geoff Cox, “La tour de glace” is set in the 1970s and follows Jeanne, a teenage girl who runs away from her orphanage located in a mountain village. She flees to Paris with big dreams to fulfill and finds shelter in a warehouse which turns out to be used as a studio where...
The long-gestated film marks the first collaboration between Hadzihalilovic and Muriel Merlin, producer at 3B Productions. Hadzihalilovic’s follow up to “Earwig,” which won the jury prize at San Sebastian, “La Tour de glace” is expected to be the director’s most accessible and ambitious film to date. The movie will reteam Hadzihalilovic with Cotillard who had starred in her 2004 film “Innocence.”
Co-written by Geoff Cox, “La tour de glace” is set in the 1970s and follows Jeanne, a teenage girl who runs away from her orphanage located in a mountain village. She flees to Paris with big dreams to fulfill and finds shelter in a warehouse which turns out to be used as a studio where...
- 7/5/2023
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
John Lewis has always been fighting for civil rights, voting rights, gun control, health-care reform and immigration. He’s been doing it for over 60 years so to say that his narrative is relevant more now than ever is a wild understatement.
In the documentary John Lewis: Good Trouble, director Dawn Porter chronicles Lewis’s life via interviews with the 80-year-old advocate who is just as active now as he was 60 years ago. Through rare archival footage, Porter puts a long-overdue spotlight on Lewis taking us on a journey through his childhood experiences, his inspiring family, his activism during the Civil Rights movement and his fateful meeting with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in 1957. We also get to hear from political leaders, his Congressional colleagues and those who have been with Lewis on his journey during his life and his career.
Porter recently appeared on a New...
In the documentary John Lewis: Good Trouble, director Dawn Porter chronicles Lewis’s life via interviews with the 80-year-old advocate who is just as active now as he was 60 years ago. Through rare archival footage, Porter puts a long-overdue spotlight on Lewis taking us on a journey through his childhood experiences, his inspiring family, his activism during the Civil Rights movement and his fateful meeting with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in 1957. We also get to hear from political leaders, his Congressional colleagues and those who have been with Lewis on his journey during his life and his career.
Porter recently appeared on a New...
- 7/3/2020
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
Seydoux plays a celebrity journalist juggling her busy career and personal life whose life is overturned by a freak car accident.
Screen can reveal the first look image of Lea Seydoux in Bruno Dumont’s upcoming drama On A Half Clear Morning.
She plays a celebrity journalist juggling her busy career and personal life whose life is overturned by a freak car accident.
Dumont writes and directs the drama, with actress and stand-up comedian Blanche Gardin and Benoît Magimel co-starring.
Paris-based Indie Sales are handling international sales.
Dumont’s long-time collaborators Jean Bréhat, Rachid Bouchared and Muriel Merlin at 3B Productions...
Screen can reveal the first look image of Lea Seydoux in Bruno Dumont’s upcoming drama On A Half Clear Morning.
She plays a celebrity journalist juggling her busy career and personal life whose life is overturned by a freak car accident.
Dumont writes and directs the drama, with actress and stand-up comedian Blanche Gardin and Benoît Magimel co-starring.
Paris-based Indie Sales are handling international sales.
Dumont’s long-time collaborators Jean Bréhat, Rachid Bouchared and Muriel Merlin at 3B Productions...
- 11/9/2019
- by 14¦Screen staff¦0¦
- ScreenDaily
3B Productions, the French production outfit behind Hirokazu Kore-eda’s Venice opener “The Truth,” is developing the next films of Atiq Rahimi (“The Patience Stone”) and Karim Dridi (“Chouf”).
Rahimi, whose latest film “Notre-dame du Nil” will be world premiering at Toronto, is developing with Jean Brehat at 3B Productions and Ron Senkowski (“The Prophet”) the adaptation of “Les echelles du levan” (“Port of Calls”), a novel by French-Lebanese writer Amin Maalouf.
“I’ve always loved Amin Maalouf’s novels and I wanted to adapt one, so when Ron Senkowski proposed producing with him the adaptation of ‘Les echelles du levan,’ I didn’t hesitate,” said Brehat, adding that he thought of Rahimi to direct the film because he admires his books and the quality of the two films he’s helmed.
“Les échelles du levan” will reunite Rahimi with Golshifteh Farahani, who had starred in his 2012 film “The Patience Stone.
Rahimi, whose latest film “Notre-dame du Nil” will be world premiering at Toronto, is developing with Jean Brehat at 3B Productions and Ron Senkowski (“The Prophet”) the adaptation of “Les echelles du levan” (“Port of Calls”), a novel by French-Lebanese writer Amin Maalouf.
“I’ve always loved Amin Maalouf’s novels and I wanted to adapt one, so when Ron Senkowski proposed producing with him the adaptation of ‘Les echelles du levan,’ I didn’t hesitate,” said Brehat, adding that he thought of Rahimi to direct the film because he admires his books and the quality of the two films he’s helmed.
“Les échelles du levan” will reunite Rahimi with Golshifteh Farahani, who had starred in his 2012 film “The Patience Stone.
- 9/1/2019
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Kore-eda Hirokazu’s “The Truth,” a drama starring Catherine Deneuve as (what else?) a beloved star of French cinema, will open the Venice Film Festival next month, festival organizers announced Thursday.
The award-winning Japanese director’s film, the first he has made outside his native country, also stars Juliette Binoche and Ethan Hawke.
The film, which will play in competition, follows Deneuve as a French film star with many male admirers who causes a family rift when she publishes her memoir. Her daughter (Binoche) returns from New York to Paris with her husband (Hawke) and young child, a reunion that turns to confrontation: Truths will be told, accounts settled, loves and resentments confessed.
Also Read: How Palme d'Or Winner 'Shoplifters' Made 'The Invisible People' Visible
“The encounter between the universe of Japan’s most important filmmaker today and two beloved actresses like Catherine Deneuve and Juliette Binoche, brought to life...
The award-winning Japanese director’s film, the first he has made outside his native country, also stars Juliette Binoche and Ethan Hawke.
The film, which will play in competition, follows Deneuve as a French film star with many male admirers who causes a family rift when she publishes her memoir. Her daughter (Binoche) returns from New York to Paris with her husband (Hawke) and young child, a reunion that turns to confrontation: Truths will be told, accounts settled, loves and resentments confessed.
Also Read: How Palme d'Or Winner 'Shoplifters' Made 'The Invisible People' Visible
“The encounter between the universe of Japan’s most important filmmaker today and two beloved actresses like Catherine Deneuve and Juliette Binoche, brought to life...
- 7/18/2019
- by Thom Geier
- The Wrap
Palme d’Or-winning director Hirokazu Kore-eda’s hotly anticipated new film, “The Truth,” starring Catherine Deneuve, Juliette Binoche and Ethan Hawke, will open the 76th edition of the Venice Film Festival.
“The Truth,” which marks the director’s first work set outside his native Japan, will screen on the Lido on Aug. 28 in competition. Kore-eda won the Palme d’Or at Cannes in 2018 with “Shoplifters.”
It’s the first time since 2012 that Venice artistic director Alberto Barbera has not chosen a Hollywood film as the festival’s opening film. The past three openers have been “First Man,” “Downsizing” and “La La Land.”
In “The Truth” (French title “La vérité”), Deneuve plays movie star Fabienne, who “reigns amongst men who love and admire her.” When she publishes her memoirs, her daughter Lumir (Juliette Binoche) returns from New York to Paris with her husband (Ethan Hawke) and their young child. “The reunion...
“The Truth,” which marks the director’s first work set outside his native Japan, will screen on the Lido on Aug. 28 in competition. Kore-eda won the Palme d’Or at Cannes in 2018 with “Shoplifters.”
It’s the first time since 2012 that Venice artistic director Alberto Barbera has not chosen a Hollywood film as the festival’s opening film. The past three openers have been “First Man,” “Downsizing” and “La La Land.”
In “The Truth” (French title “La vérité”), Deneuve plays movie star Fabienne, who “reigns amongst men who love and admire her.” When she publishes her memoirs, her daughter Lumir (Juliette Binoche) returns from New York to Paris with her husband (Ethan Hawke) and their young child. “The reunion...
- 7/18/2019
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
The Venice Film Festival has set Hirokazu Kore-eda’s The Truth (La Verite) as its opening night screening. This is the first film the Palme d’Or-winning Shoplifters director has made abroad and boasts a powerhouse cast led by Catherine Deneuve, Juliette Binoche and Ethan Hawke.
The Truth will screen in competition and world premiere on August 28. The story centers on Fabienne (Deneuve), a star of French cinema who reigns amongst men who love and admire her. When she publishes her memoirs, her daughter Lumir (Binoche) returns from New York to Paris with her husband (Hawke) and young child. The reunion between mother and daughter will quickly turn to confrontation: truths will be told, accounts settled, loves and resentments confessed.
Festival Director Alberto Barbera says, “The encounter between the universe of Japan’s most important filmmaker today and two beloved actresses like Catherine Deneuve and Juliette Binoche, brought to life...
The Truth will screen in competition and world premiere on August 28. The story centers on Fabienne (Deneuve), a star of French cinema who reigns amongst men who love and admire her. When she publishes her memoirs, her daughter Lumir (Binoche) returns from New York to Paris with her husband (Hawke) and young child. The reunion between mother and daughter will quickly turn to confrontation: truths will be told, accounts settled, loves and resentments confessed.
Festival Director Alberto Barbera says, “The encounter between the universe of Japan’s most important filmmaker today and two beloved actresses like Catherine Deneuve and Juliette Binoche, brought to life...
- 7/18/2019
- by Nancy Tartaglione
- Deadline Film + TV
Respected international sales veteran replaces outgoing Isabelle Giordano.
Sales veteran Daniela Elstner, best known as the head of Paris-based sales company Doc & Film International, has been appointed as the new managing director of French cinema promotional body Unifrance.
She replaces Isabelle Giordano who is leaving at the end of July after six years in the role.
The appointment was overseen by Unifrance president Serge Toubiana who was unanimously re-elected for another two-year term last week.
“I’m overjoyed that Daniela Elstner, a major figure in the export of French cinema, who is recognised throughout the profession for her knowledge...
Sales veteran Daniela Elstner, best known as the head of Paris-based sales company Doc & Film International, has been appointed as the new managing director of French cinema promotional body Unifrance.
She replaces Isabelle Giordano who is leaving at the end of July after six years in the role.
The appointment was overseen by Unifrance president Serge Toubiana who was unanimously re-elected for another two-year term last week.
“I’m overjoyed that Daniela Elstner, a major figure in the export of French cinema, who is recognised throughout the profession for her knowledge...
- 7/8/2019
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- ScreenDaily
Dumont writes and directs the drama, his seventh feature-length fiction after Joan Of Arc which premieres in Un Certain Regard this year.
Paris-based Indie Sales has boarded international sales on Bruno Dumont’s upcoming drama On A Half Clear Morning, starring Léa Seydoux as a celebrity journalist juggling her busy career and personal life whose life is over-turned by a freak car accident.
Dumont writes and directs the drama, his seventh feature-length fiction after Joan Of Arc which premieres in Un Certain Regard this year.
Seydoux – who is also in Cannes this year in Arnaud Desplechin’s Palme d’Or contender Oh Mercy!
Paris-based Indie Sales has boarded international sales on Bruno Dumont’s upcoming drama On A Half Clear Morning, starring Léa Seydoux as a celebrity journalist juggling her busy career and personal life whose life is over-turned by a freak car accident.
Dumont writes and directs the drama, his seventh feature-length fiction after Joan Of Arc which premieres in Un Certain Regard this year.
Seydoux – who is also in Cannes this year in Arnaud Desplechin’s Palme d’Or contender Oh Mercy!
- 5/14/2019
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- ScreenDaily
IFC Films has acquired North American rights to “The Truth,” Hirokazu Kore-eda’s follow-up to his Oscar-nominated and Palme d’Or-winning “Shoplifters,” Variety has learned.
The deal was announced at the Berlin Film Festival and comes after an active Sundance for IFC — one in which the indie label picked up rights to the Keira Knightley thriller “Official Secrets” and Jennifer Kent’s “The Nightingale.”
“The Truth” brings together two icons of French cinema, Catherine Deneuve and Juliette Binoche, for the the first time on the big screen. It co-stars Ethan Hawke. In a bit of art imitating life, the film centers on Fabienne (Deneuve), a legendary movie star renowned for her talent and beauty. Despite her professional success, Fabienne has a strained relationship with her daughter Lumir (Binoche), a screenwriter. Things reach a boiling point after Lumir and her husband (Hawke) return to Paris and Fabienne publishes a memoir. Instead of a warm reunion,...
The deal was announced at the Berlin Film Festival and comes after an active Sundance for IFC — one in which the indie label picked up rights to the Keira Knightley thriller “Official Secrets” and Jennifer Kent’s “The Nightingale.”
“The Truth” brings together two icons of French cinema, Catherine Deneuve and Juliette Binoche, for the the first time on the big screen. It co-stars Ethan Hawke. In a bit of art imitating life, the film centers on Fabienne (Deneuve), a legendary movie star renowned for her talent and beauty. Despite her professional success, Fabienne has a strained relationship with her daughter Lumir (Binoche), a screenwriter. Things reach a boiling point after Lumir and her husband (Hawke) return to Paris and Fabienne publishes a memoir. Instead of a warm reunion,...
- 2/8/2019
- by Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Camille Claudel, 1915
Director/Writer: Bruno Dumont
Producer(s): Rachid Bouchareb, Jean Bréhat, Muriel Merlin
U.S. Distributor: Rights Available
Cast: Juliette Binoche and Jean-Luc Vincent
We originally had Bruno Dumont’s 7th feature film on last year’s Most Anticipated list (number 36 spot) when it was called La Créatrice. He has always worked with non-professionals or thesps that don’t have any star wattage – so it’ll be interesting to see how he handles and experienced thesp in Juliette Binoche.
Gist: Winter, 1915. Confined by her family to an asylum in the South of France – where she will never sculpt again – the chronicle of Camille Claudel’s reclusive life, as she waits for a visit from her brother, Paul Claudel.
Release Date: Berlin Film Festival showing then a release in France in the month of March. Expect a distribution deal announcement post festival for the U.S.
prev next...
Director/Writer: Bruno Dumont
Producer(s): Rachid Bouchareb, Jean Bréhat, Muriel Merlin
U.S. Distributor: Rights Available
Cast: Juliette Binoche and Jean-Luc Vincent
We originally had Bruno Dumont’s 7th feature film on last year’s Most Anticipated list (number 36 spot) when it was called La Créatrice. He has always worked with non-professionals or thesps that don’t have any star wattage – so it’ll be interesting to see how he handles and experienced thesp in Juliette Binoche.
Gist: Winter, 1915. Confined by her family to an asylum in the South of France – where she will never sculpt again – the chronicle of Camille Claudel’s reclusive life, as she waits for a visit from her brother, Paul Claudel.
Release Date: Berlin Film Festival showing then a release in France in the month of March. Expect a distribution deal announcement post festival for the U.S.
prev next...
- 1/14/2013
- by Eric Lavallee
- IONCINEMA.com
At the beginning of every month, Ioncinema.com's "Tracking Shot" features about a half dozen projects that are moments away from lensing and that we feel are worth signaling out. This August, we've got a good grouping of titles that are positioning themselves for a Cannes release next May. On the indie front, any hopes of seeing Lee Daniels' Selma go into production appear to be dashed, financing woes might pull the plug on the production despite this being a perfect opportunity, especially in today's climate, to re-introduce a film which has racism in the forefront. We are awaiting confirmation on a filmmaker from our American New Wave 25 profiles to confirm a start date this month, but three established veteran indie filmmakers will be commencing production shortly: Rodrigo García is looking to direct Glenn Close's Albert Nobbs project, Mark Pellington's low budget I Melt With You will...
- 8/1/2010
- IONCINEMA.com
IFC Films has acquired North American rights to Bruno Dumont's "Hadewijch." The film, which stars Julie Sokolmowksi as a religious extremist, will have its U.S. premiere Sunday at the New York Film Festival.
The film was produced by Rachid Bouchareb, Jean Brehat, Muriel Merlin and Dirk Wilutsky.
At the Toronto International Film Festival, where it had its world premiere, it won the Fipresci International Critics Prize.
IFC will release "Hadewijch" next year via its IFC in Theaters platform which offers movies as VOD offerings the same day they premiere in theaters.
The deal was negotiated by Lizzie Nastro on behalf of IFC with Yoann Ubermulhin of Pyramide International.
The film was produced by Rachid Bouchareb, Jean Brehat, Muriel Merlin and Dirk Wilutsky.
At the Toronto International Film Festival, where it had its world premiere, it won the Fipresci International Critics Prize.
IFC will release "Hadewijch" next year via its IFC in Theaters platform which offers movies as VOD offerings the same day they premiere in theaters.
The deal was negotiated by Lizzie Nastro on behalf of IFC with Yoann Ubermulhin of Pyramide International.
- 10/2/2009
- by By Gregg Kilday
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Bruno Dumont’s prize-winning film Hadewijch has been picked up by IFC Films.
Landing North American rights, IFC will release the film in both theaters and on Video on Demand (VOD) in 2010. The French-language film centers on a young girl whose religious extremist views bring shocking consequences it her life.
Dumont’s film won the critics’ Fipresci prize at this year’s Toronto Film Festival and will make it’s American debut at the New York Film Fesitval.
Hadewijch stars Julie Sokolowsk with a screenplay penned by Dumont. Rachid Bouchareb, Jean Brehat, Muriel Merlin and Dirk Wilutsky produced. “With Hadewijch, he’s [Dumont] made his most accessible film that is going to be a real topic of discussion,” said IFC Entertainment head Jonathan Sehring.
Related posts:Scary ‘Supermax’ picked up by Sony PicturesAmerican remake of ‘The Orphanage’ lands its directorJim Carrey gay movie “too risque” for American audiences...
Landing North American rights, IFC will release the film in both theaters and on Video on Demand (VOD) in 2010. The French-language film centers on a young girl whose religious extremist views bring shocking consequences it her life.
Dumont’s film won the critics’ Fipresci prize at this year’s Toronto Film Festival and will make it’s American debut at the New York Film Fesitval.
Hadewijch stars Julie Sokolowsk with a screenplay penned by Dumont. Rachid Bouchareb, Jean Brehat, Muriel Merlin and Dirk Wilutsky produced. “With Hadewijch, he’s [Dumont] made his most accessible film that is going to be a real topic of discussion,” said IFC Entertainment head Jonathan Sehring.
Related posts:Scary ‘Supermax’ picked up by Sony PicturesAmerican remake of ‘The Orphanage’ lands its directorJim Carrey gay movie “too risque” for American audiences...
- 10/2/2009
- by Erik Buckman
- ReelLoop.com
NEW YORK -- By only his third feature, the misanthropy of director Bruno Dumont is already beginning to get wearisome. This latest effort, a tedious road movie in which a young couple drive around the desert, stopping occasionally to have animalistic sex, is presumably intended to be significant because of its shocker of an ending. That would be all well and good if the filmmaker has something significant to say, but "Twentynine Palms" is ultimately a hollow and pointless exercise. Currently being showcased at the Rendez-Vous With French Cinema 2004 series at New York's Walter Reade Theatre, the film opens commercially later in the spring.
Filmed in California's Joshua Tree Desert -- the widescreen compositions of Georges Lechaptois are quite beautiful -- the film chronicles the seemingly interminable road trip undertaken by David David Wissak), an American, and his Eastern European, French-speaking girlfriend, Katia (Katia Golubeva). Proving the adage about being wary of movies in which the characters' names are the same as the actors, David and Katia are virtual ciphers
indeed, they barely communicate even with each other as neither speaks the other's language.
But they do have sex, and quite a lot of it, rendered in highly graphic but ultimately laughable scenes because the onscreen orgasms are so violent and torrential in nature that one fears for the performers' safety. Needless to say, this aspect of the film, with the couplings often taking place outdoors in quite scenic locations, will no doubt figure prominently in the international marketing campaign.
The film's climax, a particularly brutal episode, won't be revealed here, but suffice it to say that memories of "Deliverance" are likely to be stirred. The director has said that he intended "Twentynine Palms" to be a horror film, but the label ill matches the sleep-inducing proceedings on display.
Twentynine Palms
Wellspring
Credits:
Director-screenwriter: Bruno Dumont
Producers: Jean Brehat, Rachid Bouchareb
Executive producers: Muriel Merlin in association with the 7th Floor, Allen Bain, Jesse Scolaro, Darren Goldberg
Director of photography: Georges Lechaptois
Editor: Dominique Petrot
Cast:
Katia: Katia Golubeva
David: David Wissak
No MPAA rating
Running time -- 130 minutes...
Filmed in California's Joshua Tree Desert -- the widescreen compositions of Georges Lechaptois are quite beautiful -- the film chronicles the seemingly interminable road trip undertaken by David David Wissak), an American, and his Eastern European, French-speaking girlfriend, Katia (Katia Golubeva). Proving the adage about being wary of movies in which the characters' names are the same as the actors, David and Katia are virtual ciphers
indeed, they barely communicate even with each other as neither speaks the other's language.
But they do have sex, and quite a lot of it, rendered in highly graphic but ultimately laughable scenes because the onscreen orgasms are so violent and torrential in nature that one fears for the performers' safety. Needless to say, this aspect of the film, with the couplings often taking place outdoors in quite scenic locations, will no doubt figure prominently in the international marketing campaign.
The film's climax, a particularly brutal episode, won't be revealed here, but suffice it to say that memories of "Deliverance" are likely to be stirred. The director has said that he intended "Twentynine Palms" to be a horror film, but the label ill matches the sleep-inducing proceedings on display.
Twentynine Palms
Wellspring
Credits:
Director-screenwriter: Bruno Dumont
Producers: Jean Brehat, Rachid Bouchareb
Executive producers: Muriel Merlin in association with the 7th Floor, Allen Bain, Jesse Scolaro, Darren Goldberg
Director of photography: Georges Lechaptois
Editor: Dominique Petrot
Cast:
Katia: Katia Golubeva
David: David Wissak
No MPAA rating
Running time -- 130 minutes...
NEW YORK -- By only his third feature, the misanthropy of director Bruno Dumont is already beginning to get wearisome. This latest effort, a tedious road movie in which a young couple drive around the desert, stopping occasionally to have animalistic sex, is presumably intended to be significant because of its shocker of an ending. That would be all well and good if the filmmaker has something significant to say, but "Twentynine Palms" is ultimately a hollow and pointless exercise. Currently being showcased at the Rendez-Vous With French Cinema 2004 series at New York's Walter Reade Theatre, the film opens commercially later in the spring.
Filmed in California's Joshua Tree Desert -- the widescreen compositions of Georges Lechaptois are quite beautiful -- the film chronicles the seemingly interminable road trip undertaken by David David Wissak), an American, and his Eastern European, French-speaking girlfriend, Katia (Katia Golubeva). Proving the adage about being wary of movies in which the characters' names are the same as the actors, David and Katia are virtual ciphers
indeed, they barely communicate even with each other as neither speaks the other's language.
But they do have sex, and quite a lot of it, rendered in highly graphic but ultimately laughable scenes because the onscreen orgasms are so violent and torrential in nature that one fears for the performers' safety. Needless to say, this aspect of the film, with the couplings often taking place outdoors in quite scenic locations, will no doubt figure prominently in the international marketing campaign.
The film's climax, a particularly brutal episode, won't be revealed here, but suffice it to say that memories of "Deliverance" are likely to be stirred. The director has said that he intended "Twentynine Palms" to be a horror film, but the label ill matches the sleep-inducing proceedings on display.
Twentynine Palms
Wellspring
Credits:
Director-screenwriter: Bruno Dumont
Producers: Jean Brehat, Rachid Bouchareb
Executive producers: Muriel Merlin in association with the 7th Floor, Allen Bain, Jesse Scolaro, Darren Goldberg
Director of photography: Georges Lechaptois
Editor: Dominique Petrot
Cast:
Katia: Katia Golubeva
David: David Wissak
No MPAA rating
Running time -- 130 minutes...
Filmed in California's Joshua Tree Desert -- the widescreen compositions of Georges Lechaptois are quite beautiful -- the film chronicles the seemingly interminable road trip undertaken by David David Wissak), an American, and his Eastern European, French-speaking girlfriend, Katia (Katia Golubeva). Proving the adage about being wary of movies in which the characters' names are the same as the actors, David and Katia are virtual ciphers
indeed, they barely communicate even with each other as neither speaks the other's language.
But they do have sex, and quite a lot of it, rendered in highly graphic but ultimately laughable scenes because the onscreen orgasms are so violent and torrential in nature that one fears for the performers' safety. Needless to say, this aspect of the film, with the couplings often taking place outdoors in quite scenic locations, will no doubt figure prominently in the international marketing campaign.
The film's climax, a particularly brutal episode, won't be revealed here, but suffice it to say that memories of "Deliverance" are likely to be stirred. The director has said that he intended "Twentynine Palms" to be a horror film, but the label ill matches the sleep-inducing proceedings on display.
Twentynine Palms
Wellspring
Credits:
Director-screenwriter: Bruno Dumont
Producers: Jean Brehat, Rachid Bouchareb
Executive producers: Muriel Merlin in association with the 7th Floor, Allen Bain, Jesse Scolaro, Darren Goldberg
Director of photography: Georges Lechaptois
Editor: Dominique Petrot
Cast:
Katia: Katia Golubeva
David: David Wissak
No MPAA rating
Running time -- 130 minutes...
- 3/22/2004
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.