14/10/2009

There has been almost unanimous critical approval for Mademoiselle Chambon [+see also:
trailer
film profile] by Stéphane Brizé (Not Here to Be Loved [+see also:
trailer
film profile]), which is being released today by Rezo on 193 screens.

Adapted from Eric Holder’s eponymous novel, the film stars Sandrine Kiberlain (Le Petit Nicolas [+see also:
trailer
film profile]), Vincent Lindon (Welcome [+see also:
film review
trailer
making of
interview: Philippe Lioret
film profile]) and Aure Atika. Co-written by the director and Florence Vignon, it is a story of love at first sight between a happy man, who is a good husband and father, and a single primary school teacher.

Explored with great subtlety and moving simplicity, this "impossible" passion brings together two individuals from very different social backgrounds: a laconic builder and a cultured violinist, brilliantly portrayed by Lindon and Kiberlain (who used to be a couple in real life but separated five years ago).

"As much as I love feelings, I hate sentimentalism," commented Brizé. "I try to capture something invisible, something that is hidden between words, in the silences and hesitations. Something that is connected to little moments of truth."

Produced by TS Productions for €3.76m, Mademoiselle Chambon received an advance on receipts from the National Film and Moving Image Centre (CNC) and pre-sales from Canal+ and TPS.

The line-up also includes two French comedies. Rose et Noir (“Pink and Black”), by and starring Gérard Jugnot, was produced by Les Films Manuel Munz, Nova Arturo Films and Madrid’s Flamenco Films for €15.63m. It also received co-production support from France 2 Cinéma, France 3 Cinéma and EuropaCorp. The latter is releasing the title on almost 350 screens.

Meanwhile, StudioCanal is launching on around 300 screens Valérie Guignabodet’s Divorces! [+see also:
trailer
film profile], featuring François-Xavier Demaison and Pascale Arbillot. The film was produced by Pan-Européenne and France 2 Cinéma.

Among the eight other new releases are Jon Harris’ UK horror film The Descent: Part 2 [+see also:
trailer
film profile] (Pathé Distribution - 125 screens); Christian Ditter’s German/French co-production French for Beginners (distributed by Les Films à Fleur de peau); and Danish animated film A Tale of Two Mozzies by Jannik Hastrup and Flemming Quist Moller (Les Films du Préau).

(Translated from French)