06/11/2008

Shooting got underway last week in Bordeaux on Domaine, the debut feature by 33-year-old Austrian-born director Patric Chiha, who lives in Paris. The film stars Béatrice Dalle (Inside [+see also:
trailer
film profile]) and young actor Isaïe Sultan (Avant Poste).

Written by the director, the feature centres on Pierre (Sultan), a teenager who spends all his time with Nadia (Dalle), a flamboyant woman in her thirties. Their relationship is friendly, bordering on amorous.

The chaos that reigns in Nadia’s life fascinates this young man on the threshold of adulthood. But Nadia is a damaged woman, dependent on alcohol. Gradually, she lets herself go. Pierre thinks he can help her and stop her from going too far.

Alternating between documentaries and features since 2001, Chiha recently directed the shorts Où se trouve le chef de la prison? (18‘) and Home (50'), which were released in theatres in March.

Produced by Charlotte Vincent for Aurora Films – who produced the director’s latest two shorts and until now had only one feature to their name (Nicolas Klotz’s excellent 2004 title, The Wound [+see also:
trailer
film profile]) – Domaine received a €450,000 advance on receipts from the National Film Centre (CNC), as well as backing from the Aquitaine Region and pre-sales from Ciné Cinéma.

The film will be completed in spring 2009, with domestic distribution and international sales currently under negotiation. Shooting in Bordeaux will last until November 25, before the team relocates to Austria for an additional week of filming from December 1-6.

(Translated from French)