15/11/2023 - Jean-Paul Rouve, Pierre Richard, Madeleine Beauvois and Joseph Olivennes star in this Les Films du Worso production sold by Pathé

After beginning on 22 September, filming on La vallée des fous by Xavier Beauvois will conclude on 24 November in Normandy. This is the 9th feature film from the director who has twice won awards in Cannes (Jury Prize in 1995 for Don't Forget You're Going to Die and Grand Prix in 2010 for Of Gods and Men [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Xavier Beauvois
film profile]) and who was twice in Competition in Venice (in 2000 and 2014) and once in Berlin (with Drift Away [+see also:
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interview: Xavier Beauvois
film profile] in 2021).

In the cast are Jean-Paul Rouve (nominated for the 2003 Most Promising Actor and the 2005 Best Supporting Actor César awards, at his best in Consent [+see also:
film review
film profile] currently in French cinemas and in the series Polar Park on Arte), veteran actor Pierre Richard (Honorary César award in 2006, appreciated recently in Jeanne du Barry [+see also:
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film profile]), Madeleine Beauvois (already in Beauvois’ The Guardians [+see also:
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interview: Xavier Beauvois
film profile] and Drift Away) and Joseph Olivennes (Magnetic Beats [+see also:
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interview: Vincent Maël Cardona
film profile], Deep Fear).

Written by the director together with Gioacchino Campanella and Marie-Julie Maille, the script centres on Jean-Paul, a man passionate about sailing who is going through a rough patch. He is accumulating debts and losing touch with his loved ones. Determined to get his life back on track, he signs up for Virtual Regatta, the virtual race of the Vendée Globe. He puts himself in the conditions of a real skipper, isolating himself for three months on his boat in his garden… This unusual trip will allow him to reconnect with his family, but most of all with himself…

Produced by Sylvie Pialat and Benoît Quainon for Les Films du Worso, La vallée des fous is co-produced by Pathé (who will handle French distribution and international sales), France 3 Cinéma and Les Films du Monsieur. Pre-bought by France Télévisions, Canal+ and Ciné+, the feature film also benefits from the support of Normandie Images, of the La Banque Postale Image, Cinémage, Cofimage, Cinéventure, Palatine Étoile and Sofitvciné Soficas, and of privileged partnerships with Virtual Regatta, Vendée Globe, and la Macif. The 37 days of filming began in Brittany (in Concarneau) before continuing in Normandy from 16 October (in Vattetot-sur-Mer). The direction of photography is handled by Julien Hirsch (winner of the César in his category in 2008 and nominated in 2012).

For the record, Les Films du Worso currently have My New Friends [+see also:
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film profile] by André Téchiné (with Isabelle Huppert heading the cast) and Dao by Alain Gomis (read the news) in post-production. Worth noting among their co-productions are Prima la vita, poi il cinema by Italian director Francesca Comencini (in post-production), Apathy by Greece’s Alexandros Avranas (in post-production) and Volveréis by Spain’s Jonas Trueba (currently filming), as well as Robot Dreams [+see also:
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trailer
film profile] by Spain’s Pablo Berger (discovered as a Special Screening in Cannes).

(Translated from French)