19/12/2023 - Marco Luraschi, Jeanne Balibar, Marc Barbé and Phénix Brossard stars in the director’s first fiction feature film, produced by Gloria Films and sold by Be For Films

Actor Marco Luraschi (© AgencesArtistiques) and actress Jeanne Balibar (© Carole Bellaiche)

Noticed for his short film Rikishi (2017) and his TV documentary Samaritain (winner of the 2019 Étoile de la Scam), Julien Menanteau has just wrapped filming on his first fiction feature film: Lads.

Standing out in the cast are Marco Luraschi (spotted in the role of young Pierre Durand in Jappeloup [+see also:
trailer
interview: Lou de Laâge
film profile] and seen in Ride Above [+see also:
trailer
film profile], also a stuntman who has worked on Athena [+see also:
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trailer
interview: Romain Gavras
film profile] and The Three Musketeers: D’Artagnan [+see also:
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trailer
film profile]), Jeanne Balibar (winner of the 2018 César award for Best Actress for Barbara [+see also:
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interview: Christian Petzold
film profile], nominated three times in the Supporting Actress category, including in 2022 for Lost Illusions [+see also:
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interview: Xavier Giannoli
film profile], and appearing next year in Le Molière imaginaire, Boléro [+see also:
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trailer
film profile] and Le Système Victoria among other titles), Marc Barbé (currently in French cinemas in The Three Musketeers: Milady, a highlight recently in The Other Laurens [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Claude Schmitz
film profile] and Grand Expectations [+see also:
film review
film profile], and appearing in 2024 in Planète B) and Phénix Brossard (winner of the 2015 Best Actor award in Dinard for Departure [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile], glimpsed last year in Narvik).

Written by the director together with Nour Ben Salem (Hard Shell, Soft Shell [+see also:
trailer
film profile]), the script centres on 20-year-old Ethan, 20 ans, who becomes an apprentice jockey at a racing stable. He discovers a talent and a passion, and begins to dream about a better future. But the world of jockeys is expensive and highly competitive. Out of a hundred lads, only one will become a pro. If he wants to stand out, Ethan will have to take some risks…

Produced by Laurent Lavolé for Gloria Films Production, Lads is co-produced by Pictanovo (Hauts-de-France region) and by Belgium’s Beside Productions. Pre-bought by Canal+ and Ciné+, the feature film also benefits from the support of the CNC’s advance on receipts and of the Cinéventure and Cofimage Soficas. The seven weeks of filming took place from 23 October to 7 December with Belgium’s Julien Ramirez Hernan (The Sixth Child [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile]) as director of photography. Editing will be handled by Manon Falise and the music composed by Jack Bartman. French distribution will be via ARP Sélection and international sales by Be For Films.

For the record, Gloria Films Production is also behind the documentaries After The Evil by Tamara Erde and Les Vieux by Claus Drexel in post-production.

(Translated from French)