Producer Guillaume Benski explains how the hit film came to be made.
“It wasn’t supposed to be this big,” says producer Guillaume Benski of the international box office success of Anthony Fabian’s Mrs Harris Goes To Paris, starring Lesley Manville and Isabelle Huppert.
The English-language film, produced by Benski’s Paris and London-based Superbe Films, with Xavier Marchand’s MoonRiver, has grossed approximately 30m worldwide since its release in July 2022. It opened first in North America via Focus Features, grossing 10.3m. Universal Pictures then opened Mrs Harris around the world where it has performed particularly well in the...
“It wasn’t supposed to be this big,” says producer Guillaume Benski of the international box office success of Anthony Fabian’s Mrs Harris Goes To Paris, starring Lesley Manville and Isabelle Huppert.
The English-language film, produced by Benski’s Paris and London-based Superbe Films, with Xavier Marchand’s MoonRiver, has grossed approximately 30m worldwide since its release in July 2022. It opened first in North America via Focus Features, grossing 10.3m. Universal Pictures then opened Mrs Harris around the world where it has performed particularly well in the...
- 1/10/2023
- by Rebecca Leffler
- ScreenDaily
Focus Features has pushed Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris from May 6 to July 15.
This is not on account of the pandemic, rather to provide the film with some breathing room against Focus’ Downton Abbey: A New Era which debuts on May 20.
Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris will be a moderate release and open on the same weekend as Sony’s Brad Pitt action title Bullet Train and STX horror movie Bed Rest.
Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris follows a seemingly ordinary British housekeeper whose dream to own a couture Christian Dior gown takes her on an extraordinary adventure to Paris. The film stars Lesley Manville, Isabelle Huppert, Jason Isaacs, Lambert Wilson, Alba Baptista, Lucas Bravo and Rose Williams.
Pic is directed by Anthony Fabian, written by Fabian, Carroll Cartwright, Keith Thompson, and Olivia Hetreed, and based on the novella of the same name by Paul Gallico. Producers are Xavier Marchand,...
This is not on account of the pandemic, rather to provide the film with some breathing room against Focus’ Downton Abbey: A New Era which debuts on May 20.
Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris will be a moderate release and open on the same weekend as Sony’s Brad Pitt action title Bullet Train and STX horror movie Bed Rest.
Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris follows a seemingly ordinary British housekeeper whose dream to own a couture Christian Dior gown takes her on an extraordinary adventure to Paris. The film stars Lesley Manville, Isabelle Huppert, Jason Isaacs, Lambert Wilson, Alba Baptista, Lucas Bravo and Rose Williams.
Pic is directed by Anthony Fabian, written by Fabian, Carroll Cartwright, Keith Thompson, and Olivia Hetreed, and based on the novella of the same name by Paul Gallico. Producers are Xavier Marchand,...
- 2/9/2022
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
The feature take of Paul Gallico’s novella Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris is set for a theatrical release March 4, 2022 via Focus Features in the U.S. and Canada, the distributor said Tuesday.
Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris stars Lesley Manville, Isabelle Huppert, Jason Isaacs, Lambert Wilson, Alba Baptista, Lucas Bravo and Rose Williams.
Directed by Anthony Fabian and in partnership with the House of Dior, the film tells the story of a widowed cleaning lady (Manville) in 1950s London who falls madly in love with a couture Dior dress, and decides that she must have one of her own. After she works, starves and gambles to raise the funds to pursue her dream, she embarks on an adventure to Paris that will change not only her own outlook, but the very future of the House of Dior.
Carroll Cartwright, Fabian, Keith Thompson, and Olivia Hetreed adapted. Producers are Xavier Marchand,...
Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris stars Lesley Manville, Isabelle Huppert, Jason Isaacs, Lambert Wilson, Alba Baptista, Lucas Bravo and Rose Williams.
Directed by Anthony Fabian and in partnership with the House of Dior, the film tells the story of a widowed cleaning lady (Manville) in 1950s London who falls madly in love with a couture Dior dress, and decides that she must have one of her own. After she works, starves and gambles to raise the funds to pursue her dream, she embarks on an adventure to Paris that will change not only her own outlook, but the very future of the House of Dior.
Carroll Cartwright, Fabian, Keith Thompson, and Olivia Hetreed adapted. Producers are Xavier Marchand,...
- 5/11/2021
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
eOne financed with support from National Film Institute of Hungary.
Universal Pictures International will release Mrs Harris Goes To Paris in the UK and internationally on February 25, 2022.
The drama starring Lesley Manville, Isabelle Huppert, and Jason Isaacs will open in North America via Focus Features on March 4, 2022.
Anthony Fabian is directing the film from a screenplay by Carroll Cartwright, Fabian, Keith Thompson, and Olivia Hetreed, based on the novella of the same name by Paul Gallico.
The story centres on a widowed cleaning lady in 1950s London who falls in love with a couture Dior dress, and decides that she...
Universal Pictures International will release Mrs Harris Goes To Paris in the UK and internationally on February 25, 2022.
The drama starring Lesley Manville, Isabelle Huppert, and Jason Isaacs will open in North America via Focus Features on March 4, 2022.
Anthony Fabian is directing the film from a screenplay by Carroll Cartwright, Fabian, Keith Thompson, and Olivia Hetreed, based on the novella of the same name by Paul Gallico.
The story centres on a widowed cleaning lady in 1950s London who falls in love with a couture Dior dress, and decides that she...
- 5/11/2021
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Focus Features has acquired the worldwide rights to “Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris,” a period drama starring Lesley Manville and Isabelle Huppert that emerged at this year’s European Film Market.
Anthony Fabian is directing the film that is based on a novella by Paul Gallico. Jason Isaacs, Lambert Wilson, Alba Baptista, Lucas Bravo and Rose Williams also star in the film, which Focus Features will release domestically while Universal Pictures International handles overseas distribution.
“Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris” was made in partnership with the fashion group the House of Dior, and it tells the story of a widowed cleaning lady in 1950s London who falls madly in love with a couture Dior dress and decides that she must have one of her own. After she works, starves and gambles to raise the funds to pursue her dream, she embarks on an adventure to Paris which will change not only her own outlook,...
Anthony Fabian is directing the film that is based on a novella by Paul Gallico. Jason Isaacs, Lambert Wilson, Alba Baptista, Lucas Bravo and Rose Williams also star in the film, which Focus Features will release domestically while Universal Pictures International handles overseas distribution.
“Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris” was made in partnership with the fashion group the House of Dior, and it tells the story of a widowed cleaning lady in 1950s London who falls madly in love with a couture Dior dress and decides that she must have one of her own. After she works, starves and gambles to raise the funds to pursue her dream, she embarks on an adventure to Paris which will change not only her own outlook,...
- 3/31/2021
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
Exclusive: Focus Features has struck an eight-figure deal (we hear in the mid-teens) for world rights to feature Mrs Harris Goes To Paris, starring Oscar nominees Lesley Manville (Phantom Thread) and Isabelle Huppert (Elle), Jason Isaacs (Harry Potter), Lambert Wilson (The Matrix), Alba Baptista (Warrior Nun), Lucas Bravo (Emily In Paris) and Rose Williams (Reign).
Made in partnership with the House of Dior, the period drama tells the story of a widowed cleaning lady (Manville) in 1950s London who falls madly in love with a couture Dior dress, and decides that she must have one of her own. After she works, starves and gambles to raise the funds to pursue her dream, she embarks on an adventure to Paris which will change not only her own outlook, but also the future of the iconic fashion house.
Based on the popular 1958 novella of the same name by Paul Gallico, the story...
Made in partnership with the House of Dior, the period drama tells the story of a widowed cleaning lady (Manville) in 1950s London who falls madly in love with a couture Dior dress, and decides that she must have one of her own. After she works, starves and gambles to raise the funds to pursue her dream, she embarks on an adventure to Paris which will change not only her own outlook, but also the future of the iconic fashion house.
Based on the popular 1958 novella of the same name by Paul Gallico, the story...
- 3/31/2021
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
eOne is underway on Mrs Harris Goes To Paris, the period feature starring Oscar nominated pair Lesley Manville and Isabelle Huppert. Shoot is taking place in Budapest, Hungary, before transferring to London and Paris.
The project is based on Paul Gallico’s novella and is being directed by Anthony Fabian from a screenplay adapted by Carroll Cartwright, Anthony Fabian, and Keith Thompson with additional writing by Olivia Hetreed. It tells the story of a widowed cleaning lady in 1950s London who falls madly in love with a couture Dior dress, and decides that she must have one of her own. The cast also features Jason Isaacs, Lambert Wilson, Alba Baptista, and Lucas Bravo.
Xavier Marchand (Moonriver Content), Guillaume Benski (Superbe Films) and Anthony Fabian (Elysian Films), will produce the feature, with Daniel Kresmery and Jonathan Halperyn of Hungary-based Hero Squared co-producing. Philippe Carcassonne and Lesley Manville will executive produce.
eOne...
The project is based on Paul Gallico’s novella and is being directed by Anthony Fabian from a screenplay adapted by Carroll Cartwright, Anthony Fabian, and Keith Thompson with additional writing by Olivia Hetreed. It tells the story of a widowed cleaning lady in 1950s London who falls madly in love with a couture Dior dress, and decides that she must have one of her own. The cast also features Jason Isaacs, Lambert Wilson, Alba Baptista, and Lucas Bravo.
Xavier Marchand (Moonriver Content), Guillaume Benski (Superbe Films) and Anthony Fabian (Elysian Films), will produce the feature, with Daniel Kresmery and Jonathan Halperyn of Hungary-based Hero Squared co-producing. Philippe Carcassonne and Lesley Manville will executive produce.
eOne...
- 10/8/2020
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
Jason Isaacs, Lambert Wilson, Alba Baptista, Lucas Bravo round out key cast.
Production has begun in Budapest on Mrs. Harris Goes To Paris starring Lesley Manville and Isabelle Huppert in their first appearance together.
Anthony Fabian directs from a screenplay adapted by Carroll Cartwright, Fabian, and Keith Thompson with additional writing by Olivia Hetreed.
The film will also shoot in London and Paris and is based on a novella by Paul Gallico about a widowed cleaning lady in 1950s London who works, starves and gambles to raise funds to travel to the Dior fashion house in France to buy the dress of her dreams.
Production has begun in Budapest on Mrs. Harris Goes To Paris starring Lesley Manville and Isabelle Huppert in their first appearance together.
Anthony Fabian directs from a screenplay adapted by Carroll Cartwright, Fabian, and Keith Thompson with additional writing by Olivia Hetreed.
The film will also shoot in London and Paris and is based on a novella by Paul Gallico about a widowed cleaning lady in 1950s London who works, starves and gambles to raise funds to travel to the Dior fashion house in France to buy the dress of her dreams.
- 10/8/2020
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: Sean Brosnan’s My Father Die among genre trio to secure distribution through FrightFest Presents label.
Icon Film Distribution (Ifd) and UK genre festival FrightFest have set the next three films to be released under their curated UK distribution banner FrightFest Presents.
FrightFest opener My Father Die, written and directed by Sean Brosnan, stars Joe Anderson, Candace Smith and Gary Stretch in the story of a deaf and mute man who trains himself for almost two decades to avenge himself on Ivan, the man that killed his older brother, 21 years ago.
Producers include Brosnan’s father and former James Bond star Pierce Brosnan alongside Sanja Banic, Orian Williams and Alma Bogdan-Turner.
The second film new to the slate is director Abner Pastoll’s Road Games, starring Andrew Simpson, Barbara Crampton, Josephine De La Baume and Frederic Pierrot.
The UK-France co-production was produced by Junyoung Jang (The Host) of London-based February Films and Guillaume Benski (A Long Way From Home) at Superbe Films...
Icon Film Distribution (Ifd) and UK genre festival FrightFest have set the next three films to be released under their curated UK distribution banner FrightFest Presents.
FrightFest opener My Father Die, written and directed by Sean Brosnan, stars Joe Anderson, Candace Smith and Gary Stretch in the story of a deaf and mute man who trains himself for almost two decades to avenge himself on Ivan, the man that killed his older brother, 21 years ago.
Producers include Brosnan’s father and former James Bond star Pierce Brosnan alongside Sanja Banic, Orian Williams and Alma Bogdan-Turner.
The second film new to the slate is director Abner Pastoll’s Road Games, starring Andrew Simpson, Barbara Crampton, Josephine De La Baume and Frederic Pierrot.
The UK-France co-production was produced by Junyoung Jang (The Host) of London-based February Films and Guillaume Benski (A Long Way From Home) at Superbe Films...
- 7/26/2016
- by andreas.wiseman@screendaily.com (Andreas Wiseman)
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: IFC hitches a ride with Film4 Frightfest suspense thriller.
IFC Midnight has finalized a deal for North American rights to writer-director Abner Pastoll’s suspense-thriller Road Games.
The Film4 FrightFest title stars Andrew Simpson (Notes On A Scandal), Joséphine de La Baume (Kiss Of The Damned), Frédéric Pierrot (The Returned) and Barbara Crampton (You’re Next).
The UK-France co-production was produced by Junyoung Jang (The Host) of London-based February Films and Guillaume Benski (A Long Way From Home) at Superbe Films in Paris. Executive producers are Backup Media, Trigger Films and McMc.
The story focuses on hitchhikers Jack and Véronique who take refuge with a mysterious older couple in rural France with frightening results.
The deal was negotiated by Arianna Bocco for IFC Midnight with Simon Crowe at Sc Films on behalf of the filmmakers.
Sc Films International is handling international sales at Berlin.
The film has to date been picked up by Bounty (Australia/Nz), IFC...
IFC Midnight has finalized a deal for North American rights to writer-director Abner Pastoll’s suspense-thriller Road Games.
The Film4 FrightFest title stars Andrew Simpson (Notes On A Scandal), Joséphine de La Baume (Kiss Of The Damned), Frédéric Pierrot (The Returned) and Barbara Crampton (You’re Next).
The UK-France co-production was produced by Junyoung Jang (The Host) of London-based February Films and Guillaume Benski (A Long Way From Home) at Superbe Films in Paris. Executive producers are Backup Media, Trigger Films and McMc.
The story focuses on hitchhikers Jack and Véronique who take refuge with a mysterious older couple in rural France with frightening results.
The deal was negotiated by Arianna Bocco for IFC Midnight with Simon Crowe at Sc Films on behalf of the filmmakers.
Sc Films International is handling international sales at Berlin.
The film has to date been picked up by Bounty (Australia/Nz), IFC...
- 2/3/2016
- by andreas.wiseman@screendaily.com (Andreas Wiseman)
- ScreenDaily
What do Barbara Crampton, Rick Wakeman, James Cosmo, Toyah Willcox, Neil Marshall and Bernard Rose have in common? They’re all set to make an appearance at this years London Film4 Frightfest!
Scream Queen legend Barbara Crampton (pictured above) is Film4 FrightFest’s special guest icon, appearing in no less than four films in this year’s line-up. She stars in We Are Still Here, Road Games and Sun Choke plus makes a cameo appearance in Tales of Halloween. Not only will Barbara be introducing all her films, she’ll also be talking about her amazing career during a special interview event, hosted by Alan Jones, on Sun 30th August at 9.15pm.
Says the legend herself:
To say that I am overjoyed, excited and eager to attend FrightFest as a guest is putting it mildly. This festival has been on my radar for some time and to be included and...
Scream Queen legend Barbara Crampton (pictured above) is Film4 FrightFest’s special guest icon, appearing in no less than four films in this year’s line-up. She stars in We Are Still Here, Road Games and Sun Choke plus makes a cameo appearance in Tales of Halloween. Not only will Barbara be introducing all her films, she’ll also be talking about her amazing career during a special interview event, hosted by Alan Jones, on Sun 30th August at 9.15pm.
Says the legend herself:
To say that I am overjoyed, excited and eager to attend FrightFest as a guest is putting it mildly. This festival has been on my radar for some time and to be included and...
- 7/27/2015
- by Phil Wheat
- Nerdly
Exclusive: UK seller signs Us comedy-horror ahead of Cannes.
UK sales outfit Sc Films has boarded international sales rights to completed Us horror-comedy Demon Hole.
Demon Hole charts the fallout after a fracking crew drills a hole on sacred Native American land unleashing an ancient demon, which then terrorizes six teens serving community service in a remote forest.
Writer-director is Josh Crook, producer is Lori Crook and exec producer is Allen Bain, producer of Rachid Bouchareb’s Just Like a Woman and 2014 Us action feature Revenge of the Green Dragons.
Cast includes Samantha Scaffidi, Austin Ramsey, Paris Campbell, Summer Bills and Adrian Denzel.
Us director Crook’s 2006 short, Salvage, premiered at Sundance while action-thriller La Soga premiered at Toronto. More recently, his feature Ponchao won the audience award at the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival in 2013 and premiered on HBO.
Crook said: “The current crop of horror movies has gotten too severe and grim. While scary, they...
UK sales outfit Sc Films has boarded international sales rights to completed Us horror-comedy Demon Hole.
Demon Hole charts the fallout after a fracking crew drills a hole on sacred Native American land unleashing an ancient demon, which then terrorizes six teens serving community service in a remote forest.
Writer-director is Josh Crook, producer is Lori Crook and exec producer is Allen Bain, producer of Rachid Bouchareb’s Just Like a Woman and 2014 Us action feature Revenge of the Green Dragons.
Cast includes Samantha Scaffidi, Austin Ramsey, Paris Campbell, Summer Bills and Adrian Denzel.
Us director Crook’s 2006 short, Salvage, premiered at Sundance while action-thriller La Soga premiered at Toronto. More recently, his feature Ponchao won the audience award at the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival in 2013 and premiered on HBO.
Crook said: “The current crop of horror movies has gotten too severe and grim. While scary, they...
- 4/13/2015
- by andreas.wiseman@screendaily.com (Andreas Wiseman)
- ScreenDaily
Visit SydneysBuzz Reports for the complete Fall 2013 Rights Roundup Report.
Besides bringing a great selection of films to Afm including Supremacy, The Last 5 Years, Rob the Mob, Ron Howard's Made in America, and Swelter, The Exchange will also debut sales for their film Accident, an interesting 3D film and Midnight Rider: The Gregg Allman Story.
Accident
Directed by Dan Tondowski, Accident is a 3D thrill ride based on a true story and it includes incredible new SFX effects by Simon Hansen who previously worked on Chronicle, and will be produced by Ryan Haidarian (Vehicle 19) and Guillaume Benski (2009 Cannes Director's Fortnight's Navidad). Thomas Mann (Project X) and Ashley Hinshaw (Chronicle) will star in Accident. The other leads of the film will be announced shortly
The film follows four teenagers who "borrow" a car for one night of fun and thrills. But what starts as a wild joy ride turns into a nightmare. After a violent crash, they discover that being stuck at the bottom of a ravine in an overturned car is the least of their problems. The psychotic owner of the car that they stole has them in his cross-hairs and he will stop at nothing to get back the car and its valuable contents.
"We are extremely excited to be involved with Accident and this very talented team. The demand for high concept, 3D action thrillers that are unique and marketable is very high. We feel that this film could be a real breakout success for our buyers and we are excited to bring it to market," said O'Shea.
Midnight Rider: The Gregg Allman Story
Based on the New York Times bestselling autobiography of the iconic blues singer, the screenplay was written by Unclaimed Freight Production's Randall Miller and Jody Savin, and will be directed by Miller himself.
The film focuses on Allman's early struggles through the formation of The Allman Brothers Band and the group's ultimate explosion on the music scene. On the heels of successful music biopics such as Ray and Walk the Line comes Gregg Allman's Midnight Rider, a searing and revealing look inside the man who was at the forefront of Rock 'n' Roll and the lead singer of one of the biggest American bands of all time. The film captures two of the most defining chapters of Gregg's life, when The Allman Brothers Band was just getting under way and the earlier years when Gregg, after years of drugs and alcohol abuse, cleans himself up. Chronicling his life on the road and the pitfalls of super stardom, Midnight Rider ultimately creates an uplifting tale of a rock icon as he finds his way through the darkness into the light .
In order to infuse the film with authenticity, both Savin and Miller are working closely with Allman and his manager, Michael Lehman, both of whom will serve as executive producers. The film will include original Allman Brothers tracks as well as performances by the actor/musicians. Open Road will theatrically release the film in the Us.
"This powerful story of one man's journey through his brilliant and tumultuous rock 'n' roll career is extremely compelling and will be of keen interest to our international buyers," said O'Shea
About The Exchange:
Collaborative and transparent, The Exchange is a leading international sales and finance company committed to creating strong relationships between filmmakers, film financiers and distributors through the exchange of product, information and commerce. Created by veteran sales executive Brian O'Shea, the company specializes in high quality, commercial films that appeal to North American audiences and the ever-evolving global film market. For more information, please visit: Here...
Besides bringing a great selection of films to Afm including Supremacy, The Last 5 Years, Rob the Mob, Ron Howard's Made in America, and Swelter, The Exchange will also debut sales for their film Accident, an interesting 3D film and Midnight Rider: The Gregg Allman Story.
Accident
Directed by Dan Tondowski, Accident is a 3D thrill ride based on a true story and it includes incredible new SFX effects by Simon Hansen who previously worked on Chronicle, and will be produced by Ryan Haidarian (Vehicle 19) and Guillaume Benski (2009 Cannes Director's Fortnight's Navidad). Thomas Mann (Project X) and Ashley Hinshaw (Chronicle) will star in Accident. The other leads of the film will be announced shortly
The film follows four teenagers who "borrow" a car for one night of fun and thrills. But what starts as a wild joy ride turns into a nightmare. After a violent crash, they discover that being stuck at the bottom of a ravine in an overturned car is the least of their problems. The psychotic owner of the car that they stole has them in his cross-hairs and he will stop at nothing to get back the car and its valuable contents.
"We are extremely excited to be involved with Accident and this very talented team. The demand for high concept, 3D action thrillers that are unique and marketable is very high. We feel that this film could be a real breakout success for our buyers and we are excited to bring it to market," said O'Shea.
Midnight Rider: The Gregg Allman Story
Based on the New York Times bestselling autobiography of the iconic blues singer, the screenplay was written by Unclaimed Freight Production's Randall Miller and Jody Savin, and will be directed by Miller himself.
The film focuses on Allman's early struggles through the formation of The Allman Brothers Band and the group's ultimate explosion on the music scene. On the heels of successful music biopics such as Ray and Walk the Line comes Gregg Allman's Midnight Rider, a searing and revealing look inside the man who was at the forefront of Rock 'n' Roll and the lead singer of one of the biggest American bands of all time. The film captures two of the most defining chapters of Gregg's life, when The Allman Brothers Band was just getting under way and the earlier years when Gregg, after years of drugs and alcohol abuse, cleans himself up. Chronicling his life on the road and the pitfalls of super stardom, Midnight Rider ultimately creates an uplifting tale of a rock icon as he finds his way through the darkness into the light .
In order to infuse the film with authenticity, both Savin and Miller are working closely with Allman and his manager, Michael Lehman, both of whom will serve as executive producers. The film will include original Allman Brothers tracks as well as performances by the actor/musicians. Open Road will theatrically release the film in the Us.
"This powerful story of one man's journey through his brilliant and tumultuous rock 'n' roll career is extremely compelling and will be of keen interest to our international buyers," said O'Shea
About The Exchange:
Collaborative and transparent, The Exchange is a leading international sales and finance company committed to creating strong relationships between filmmakers, film financiers and distributors through the exchange of product, information and commerce. Created by veteran sales executive Brian O'Shea, the company specializes in high quality, commercial films that appeal to North American audiences and the ever-evolving global film market. For more information, please visit: Here...
- 11/13/2013
- by Carlos Aguilar
- Sydney's Buzz
Brian O’Shea’s Los Angeles-based sales and financing company has added the 3D thriller to its slate in the lead-in to Afm.
Commercials and music video director Dan Tondowski will direct the story of four teenage joyriders who wind up at the bottom of a ravine in a car containing precious cargo as the vehicle’s psychotic owner enters the fray.
Ryan Haidarian and Guillaume Benski will produce and Accident stars Thomas Mann from Project X and Ashley Hinshaw from Chronicle.
“We are extremely excited to be involved with Accident and this very talented team,” said The Exchange CEO Brian O’Shea (pictured).
“The demand for high-concept, 3D action thrillers that are unique and marketable is very high. We feel that this film could be a real breakout success for our buyers and we are excited to bring it to market.”...
Commercials and music video director Dan Tondowski will direct the story of four teenage joyriders who wind up at the bottom of a ravine in a car containing precious cargo as the vehicle’s psychotic owner enters the fray.
Ryan Haidarian and Guillaume Benski will produce and Accident stars Thomas Mann from Project X and Ashley Hinshaw from Chronicle.
“We are extremely excited to be involved with Accident and this very talented team,” said The Exchange CEO Brian O’Shea (pictured).
“The demand for high-concept, 3D action thrillers that are unique and marketable is very high. We feel that this film could be a real breakout success for our buyers and we are excited to bring it to market.”...
- 10/30/2013
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Fantastic Fest
AUSTIN -- Borrowing heavily from the rural terrors of "Deliverance" and "Straw Dogs", "The Backwoods", the feature debut from Spanish director Koldo Serra, appropriates the vibe of the decade in which it's set, the '70s. Its preference for simmering unease over frequent jolts limits possibilities at the multiplex, but an appealing cast and convincing mood might attract respectable numbers of older viewers to a limited theatrical run.
Revolving around two English-speaking couples who trek to Northern Spain for a weekend in the country house that one of them is restoring, the pic really belongs solely to the husbands: Paul Gary Oldman) had a grandmother who lived in the region and thus carries himself with assurance among standoffish locals, while Norman (Paddy Considine) is a more timid sort who can hardly deal with the missus, much less nature's mysterious challenges.
After a familiar-feeling encounter in a local bar, where Paul surprises the regulars by understanding their derogatory Spanish chatter, the four settle in for couples bonding and manly hunting. The latter leads to trouble when the men discover a feral-looking girl (with deformed hands buttressing our assumption she's the product of backwoods inbreeding) chained up in an abandoned barn.
Paul and Norman decide to get the girl to whatever passes for local authorities in these parts, but must camouflage their efforts from a band of men (led by Lluis Homar's intriguingly hard-to-read Paco) who claim to be a rescue party but clearly want to find the girl only to keep her under wraps.
The protagonists split up, leaving the increasingly neutered Norman struggling to find a backbone (a chance to defend his wife, a sex object played by Virginie Ledoyen, only complicates matters) while Paul tries to finesse Paco's crew. Oldman is a standout here, as restrained as he's ever been, bringing gravity to what could have been a one-dimensional portrait of hubris. Trekking through the trees with Paco, drenched by a pounding rain, Oldman helps kick-start the third act action that carries through to the picture's end.
That action might come too late for viewers uninterested in the interplay of personalities -- not very original but well sold by the cast -- that sets it up. But the photography and sound (including repeated appearances of vintage Leonard Cohen on the soundtrack) draws viewers in without overselling the vague menace.
THE BACKWOODS
Lionsgate
Divine Prods./Filmax/Holy Cow Films/Montfort Producciones/Videntia Frames
Credits:
Director: Koldo Serra
Screenwriters: Jon Sagala, Koldo Serra
Producers: Guillaume Benski, Julio Fernandez, Aitor Lizarralde, Pablo Mehler, Iker Monfort, Jolyon Symonds
Director of photography: Unax Mendia
Production designers: Juanjo Gracia, Mario Suances
Music: Fernando Velazquez
Costume designer: Josune Lasa
Editor: Javier Ruiz
Cast:
Paul: Gary Oldman
Norman: Paddy Considine
Isabel: Aitana Sanchez-Gijon
Lucy: Virginie Ledoyen
Paco: Lluis Homar
Nerea: Yaiza Esteve
Running time -- 98 minutes
MPAA rating: R...
AUSTIN -- Borrowing heavily from the rural terrors of "Deliverance" and "Straw Dogs", "The Backwoods", the feature debut from Spanish director Koldo Serra, appropriates the vibe of the decade in which it's set, the '70s. Its preference for simmering unease over frequent jolts limits possibilities at the multiplex, but an appealing cast and convincing mood might attract respectable numbers of older viewers to a limited theatrical run.
Revolving around two English-speaking couples who trek to Northern Spain for a weekend in the country house that one of them is restoring, the pic really belongs solely to the husbands: Paul Gary Oldman) had a grandmother who lived in the region and thus carries himself with assurance among standoffish locals, while Norman (Paddy Considine) is a more timid sort who can hardly deal with the missus, much less nature's mysterious challenges.
After a familiar-feeling encounter in a local bar, where Paul surprises the regulars by understanding their derogatory Spanish chatter, the four settle in for couples bonding and manly hunting. The latter leads to trouble when the men discover a feral-looking girl (with deformed hands buttressing our assumption she's the product of backwoods inbreeding) chained up in an abandoned barn.
Paul and Norman decide to get the girl to whatever passes for local authorities in these parts, but must camouflage their efforts from a band of men (led by Lluis Homar's intriguingly hard-to-read Paco) who claim to be a rescue party but clearly want to find the girl only to keep her under wraps.
The protagonists split up, leaving the increasingly neutered Norman struggling to find a backbone (a chance to defend his wife, a sex object played by Virginie Ledoyen, only complicates matters) while Paul tries to finesse Paco's crew. Oldman is a standout here, as restrained as he's ever been, bringing gravity to what could have been a one-dimensional portrait of hubris. Trekking through the trees with Paco, drenched by a pounding rain, Oldman helps kick-start the third act action that carries through to the picture's end.
That action might come too late for viewers uninterested in the interplay of personalities -- not very original but well sold by the cast -- that sets it up. But the photography and sound (including repeated appearances of vintage Leonard Cohen on the soundtrack) draws viewers in without overselling the vague menace.
THE BACKWOODS
Lionsgate
Divine Prods./Filmax/Holy Cow Films/Montfort Producciones/Videntia Frames
Credits:
Director: Koldo Serra
Screenwriters: Jon Sagala, Koldo Serra
Producers: Guillaume Benski, Julio Fernandez, Aitor Lizarralde, Pablo Mehler, Iker Monfort, Jolyon Symonds
Director of photography: Unax Mendia
Production designers: Juanjo Gracia, Mario Suances
Music: Fernando Velazquez
Costume designer: Josune Lasa
Editor: Javier Ruiz
Cast:
Paul: Gary Oldman
Norman: Paddy Considine
Isabel: Aitana Sanchez-Gijon
Lucy: Virginie Ledoyen
Paco: Lluis Homar
Nerea: Yaiza Esteve
Running time -- 98 minutes
MPAA rating: R...
- 10/2/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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