Shooting anecdotes, notes of intent, information for film lovers: every week, discover behind the scenes of cinema releases.
The Knights of the Zodiac by Tomasz Baginski
Starring Famke Janssen, Madison Iseman, Sean Bean…
What is it about ? Seiya, a teenager with a strong character, is used to participating in fights to earn enough to survive on the streets, while looking for his sister who has been kidnapped. During a fight, he involuntarily draws on unsuspected mystical powers and finds himself propelled into a world where he will meet knights in armor…
Did you know ? Seiya, the hero of the saga, is played by the American-Japanese actor Mackenyu. Revealed in Pacific Rim Uprising, he also embodies Roronoa Zoro in the live series One Piece on Netflix, another adaptation of a cult manga. Note that Mackenyu is the son of the late comedian Sonny Chiba, who died in August 2021.
The Little Mermaid by Rob Marshall
With Halle Bailey, Melissa McCarthy, Jonah Hauer-King…
What is it about ? Ariel, the youngest daughter of King Triton, is a beautiful and fiery young mermaid with an adventurous temperament. Rebellious at heart, she is constantly drawn to the world that exists beyond the waves. At the turn of her escapades on the surface, she will fall under the spell of Prince Eric.
Did you know ? Disney had already staged a little colored mermaid in the animated series The Little Mermaid, broadcast between 1992 and 1994. Responding to the name of Gabriella, this hearing-impaired heroine and accompanied by the octopus Ollie (who serves as her interpreter) did not only one dream: to become a singer. For the record, the character of Gabriella is inspired by a little girl fan of the animated film, who died during the first season of the show.
Omar the Strawberry by Elias Belkeddar
With Reda Kateb, Benoît Magimel, Meriem Amiar…
What is it about ? Omar, better known as Omar the Strawberry, is an old-fashioned bandit. Forced on the run in Algeria, he saw little shenanigans, accompanied by his illustrious sidekick Roger. After having reigned over the middle of French banditry for decades, they must together accept their new life when they have lived so far only in debauchery and violence.
Did you know ? The cast of the film is made up of professional and amateur actors, in order to “take advantage of different rhythms and energies, to film nuances of languages, cultures, religious beliefs”. For the director, it was also about making a declaration of love for Algeria, representing as many cultural nuances as possible.
Love and Forests by Valérie Donzelli
With Virginie Efira, Melvil Poupaud, Dominique Reymond…
What is it about ? When Blanche crosses paths with Gregoire, she thinks she’s meeting the one she’s looking for. The bonds that unite them are woven quickly and their story is built in anger. The couple moves, Blanche moves away from her family, her twin sister, opens up to a new life. But wire after wire, she finds herself under the influence of a possessive and dangerous man.
Did you know ? Love and the Forests is adapted from the novel of the same name by Éric Reinhardt, which Valérie Donzelli read while filming Marguerite and Julien (2015). The director found immediate personal resonances there, like the disposition that one has not to fully express what one feels for fear of not being loved.
Maleta by Jorge Dorado
With Álvaro Morte, Verónica Echegui, María Eugenia Suárez…
What is it about ? Mario works in Madrid at the lost and found office. One day, he is given a suitcase found at the bottom of a river. Inside, Mario finds children’s clothes and bones. The police not being determined to investigate, he then decides to carry out his own research, risking his life.
Did you know ? La Maleta tells the story of a tormented man, a sort of modern hunchback of Notre-Dame who tries to escape his suffering and the rejection of others by hiding from the outside world. Director Jorge Dorado explains:
“He is a man who treats objects like people, unlike men who treat people like objects. La Maleta is a thriller whose protagonist is a simple man, who loves Humphrey Bogart’s films and Detective novels.”
Hidden Faces by Joe Lawlor, Christine Molloy
With Ann Skelly, Orla Brady, Aidan Gillen…
What is it about ? Rose, a student in veterinary medicine, decides to contact Ellen, her biological mother whom she has not known. She is a successful actress who does not want to develop a relationship with Rose. The latter is very tenacious and Ellen will end up revealing a secret that she has hidden for more than 20 years. Following this discovery, Rose will get closer to her biological father…
Did you know ? In the early stages of developing a screenplay, Joe Lawlor and Christine Molloy usually walk to the River Thames from their home in east London. They remember: “Walking along the Regent’s Canal, the story of a young adopted woman began to take shape and over the months we began to flesh out the details of the story and how we wanted to tell it.”
The Smell of the Wind by Hadi Mohaghegh
With Hadi Mohaghegh, Mohammad Eghbali
What is it about ? In an isolated house in the middle of an Iranian plain, a man lives alone with his bedridden son. One day, the house transformer breaks down. An electrician comes to fix it. A piece is missing, he goes in search of it which will be strewn with encounters and obstacles…
Play Dead by Patrick Lussier
Starring Bailee Madison, Jerry O’Connell, Anthony Turpel…
What is it about ? Chloe, a criminology student, fakes her own death to break into a morgue and find evidence linking her brother to a crime.
Paul-Armand Gette in Wonderland by Sylvie Boulloud
What is it about ? This film dedicated to the artist Paul-Armand Gette addresses the subject of the female body, its representation in art, the question of the model and its freedom. Paul-Armand Gette thwarts our visual habits, provokes our judgments and our preconceptions. Who better than his models to talk about him, with him, about them?