Broadcast this evening on TF1, the French action film “Lost Ball” was a real success when it was released on Netflix three years ago. But why was it not released in theaters?
Broadcast this evening on TF1, Balle perdu by Guillaume Pierret follows the misadventures of Lino, a mechanical expert specializing in the manufacture of ram-cars. Imprisoned after a robbery, he is finally enlisted by an anti go fast squad who intends to use his knowledge to fight against crime.
But just as Lino is on the verge of redemption, his mentor is murdered, and the murder falls on him. In order to prove his innocence, he now has no choice but to find the “lost bullet” – lodged in a missing car – which was used to kill his friend.
A real hit on Netflix in June 2020, Lost Ball is one of the first French action films produced and broadcast by the famous platform. Worn by Alban Lenoir, Nicolas Duvauchelle and Ramzy Bedia, punctuated by ambitious scenes and quality stunts, Guillaume Pierret’s feature film has not yet been released in theaters.
As producers Rémi Leautier and Mathieu Ageron recently explained at the microphone of Pure Mediasthe scenario of Lost Ball, proposed to many distributors, had not found takers within the traditional circuit:
“For two years, I tried to sell ‘Balle Perdue’ to French cinema. I had Canal, SND, UGC, Gaumont, etc. read the script. Nobody wanted it. It was a French action film, so two words that are not compatible in the ears of French broadcasters”said Remi Leautier.
Michael Mongin/NETFLIX
In 2018, it was therefore a representative of Netflix who decided to dub the project.
According to the two producers, if French cinema has gradually lost interest in action films, it is because previous proposals in the field have not been up to par:
“People who had their hands on this genre in France lacked inventiveness”explains Rémi Leautier, still with our colleagues from Pure Medias.
“There was the golden age of EuropaCorp by Luc Besson, and that’s it. We haven’t seen this kind of film in France for a while now. The public no longer goes to theaters to see these films because we no longer offer them quality things that make them want to move.”
Michael Mongin/NETFLIX
And Mathieu Ageron agrees:
“For many, action rhymes with American film. We have conditioned ourselves to hear “French action film” as something negative, as if we did not have the means for our ambitions.”
Despite a modest budget, Lost Ball is now one of the biggest French hits released on Netflix. After Lost Ball 2, also successful in November 2022, a third and final part, still directed by Guillaume Pierret, will soon close the action saga.
(Re)discover the trailer for “Lost Bullet 2″…