Shooting anecdotes, notes of intent, information for film lovers: every week, discover behind the scenes of cinema releases.
Gran Turismo by Neill Blomkamp
Starring David Harbour, Jamie Kenna, Orlando Bloom…
What is it about ? Gran Turismo tells the incredible true story of a team of underdogs: a working-class gamer, a failed ex-racing driver and an idealistic motorsport executive. Together, they risk it all and take on the most elite sport in the world.
Did you know ? Gran Turismo is a film project that dates back to 2013: at that time, the producers of Fifty Shades of Grey, Dana Brunetti and Michael De Luca, wanted to supervise this adaptation of the famous video game on the big screen.
Produced by Kevin Spacey, the film finds its screenwriter in the person of Alex Tse (Watchmen) and its director in that of Joseph Kosinski (Tron Legacy, Oblivion, Top Gun: Maverick). But things don’t happen. It was not until 2022 that the project materialized under the impetus of Sony and with Neill Blomkamp (District 9) behind the camera.
The Royal Way of Frédéric Mermoud
With Suzanne Jouannet, Marie Colomb, Maud Wyler…
What is it about ? Sophie is a brilliant high school student. Encouraged by her mathematics teacher, she left the family farm to follow a scientific preparatory class. Over the course of encounters, successes and failures, faced with fierce competition, Sophie realizes that her dream, to join Polytechnique, represents more than a competition… A real challenge of social ascent.
Did you know ? In his first short films, Frédéric Mermoud had already approached the learning story. Thus, L’Escalier evoked the first love emotions of a young girl. The director had also explored this furrow in Complices, his first feature, a thriller that interweaves two narrative lines, one of which tells the story of a high school girl falling in love with a prostitute.
We apologize for the inconvenience Olivier Van Hoofstadt
With Artus, Elsa Zylberstein, Benjamin Tranié…
What is it about ? Sébastien, a conscientious and professional train controller, dreams of being transferred to the south of France. .
Did you know ? The director did not want to impose any limits on the humor of the film. He makes so much fun of the police “who behave like cowboys”that environmental activists: “I think everyone loves nature, the sea, beaches without Coke cans or discarded packets of crisps. But I don’t really like the overly lecturer side of some activists.”
Ninja Turtles Teenage Years by Jeff Rowe, Kyler Spears
With Jean-Stan du Pac, Nicolas Cantu, Kylian Trouillard…
What is it about ? After years away from the human world, the Turtle brothers set out to win the hearts of New Yorkers and be accepted as normal teenagers through heroic deeds. Their new friend April O’Neil helps them take on a mysterious crime syndicate but they find themselves overwhelmed by events when an army of mutants unfolds against them.
Did you know ? Fans from the start, Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg couldn’t believe they were offered Ninja Turtles Teenage Years by Brian Robbins, CEO of Paramount and Nickelodeon. “To be honest, no one has ever offered us to start from such a strong license to imagine a film”acknowledges Goldberg.
The Promises of Amanda Sthers
With Pierfrancesco Favino, Kelly Reilly, Jean Reno…
What is it about ? Life, in general, does not stop making promises that it takes pleasure, then, in not keeping. The unfinished love story between Alexander and Laura…
Did you know ? The film was shot in Rome during confinement. Only the film crews were allowed to go out and the Promises crew crossed paths with the Gucci crew which was filming at the same time.
Turbulence zone(s) of Hafsteinn Gunnar Sigurðsson
With Timothy Spall, Emun Elliott, Ella Rumpf…
What is it about ? Sarah is a London-based businesswoman who suffers from an uncontrollable fear of flying. To save her new relationship, she must overcome her phobia and learn to let go – even if it means enduring an unexpected and wildly unpredictable flight to Iceland…
Did you know ? Hafsteinn Gunnar Sigurðsson had the idea for the film in 2008 when he was living in New York: his brother had promised to visit him from Iceland, but he suffered from such a fear of flying that he enrolled in a course to overcome this phobia (the only other option would have been to cross the Atlantic by boat!).
A masterstroke by Rémi Bezançon
With Vincent Macaigne, Bouli Lanners, Bastien Ughetto…
What is it about ? Owner of an art gallery, Arthur Forestier represents Renzo Nervi, a painter in the midst of an existential crisis. The two men have always been friends and, even if everything opposes them, the love of art unites them. Lacking inspiration for several years, Renzo gradually sinks into a radicalism that makes him unmanageable.
Did you know ? If he had already dealt with friendship in My life in the air and Our futures, Rémi Bezançon decided this time with A masterstroke to push this subject to the extreme: “I found it fun to approach this story of friendship almost like a romantic comedy. Yes, what connects these two beings is love: they cannot live without each other, even if they have hard to put up with, as we can see during the opening sequence of the film.”
The advantages of traveling by train from Aritz Moreno
With Luis Tosar, Pilar Castro, Ernesto Alterio…
What is it about ? Helga, a Madrid publisher, has just committed her husband to a psychiatric clinic. On the train home, she meets Dr. Angel Sanagustín who tells her of his most fascinating, sordid and haunting experiences. This meeting overwhelms Helga and plunges her into deep introspection.
Did you know ? The Benefits of Traveling by Train is adapted from the novel by Antonio Orejudo, The advantage of traveling by train, first published in 2005. It was after directing his last short film, Cólera in 2013, that Aritz Moreno had the idea of putting this book into images. The filmmaker recalls:
“I’m not a screenwriter and I always need external support, so to speak. The book The advantage of traveling by train, by Antonio Orejudo, was presented to me by Leire, the producer as well as my partner in Señor y Señora.”
Animalia by Sofia Alaoui
With Oumaïma Barid, Mehdi Dehbi, Fouad Oughaou…
What is it about ? Itto, a young Moroccan of modest origins, has adapted to the opulence of her husband’s family, with whom she lives. As she enjoyed a day of tranquility without her in-laws, supernatural events plunge the country into a state of emergency. Increasingly disturbing phenomena suggest that a mysterious presence is approaching. Alone, she struggles to find help…
Did you know ? Director Sofia Alaoui grew up between Morocco and China. This confrontation from an early age with different cultures allowed her to acquire an open mind and to be curious. These experiences fed Animalia.
24 Hours in New York by Vuk Lungulov-Klotz
With Lio Mehiel, Cole Doman, MiMi Ryder…
What is it about ? Feña is a young trans man who leads a hectic life in New York. Over the course of a single day, her Chilean father, her ex-boyfriend, and her 13-year-old half-sister resurface in her life. Having lost contact with them since her transition, Feña will have to reinvent these old relationships, while managing the daily challenges of her new identity.
Did you know ? 24 Hours in New York is a film about being caught between two worlds, be it skin color, gender, nationality or sexual orientation. Director Vuk Lungulov-Klotz explains:
“But it’s also a story about the space that exists between two people and how we care for each other, while constantly struggling to fit the person we were with the person we are today.”