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RELEASES France

Cinematic renaissance and spirit of resistance in Kassovitz and Guédiguian’s latest releases

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Strongly championed by critics, Mathieu Kassovitz’s Rebellion [+see also:
trailer
film profile
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(see news) and Robert Guédiguian’s The Snows of Kilimanjaro [+see also:
film review
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interview: Robert Guédiguian
interview: Robert Guédiguian
film profile
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(unveiled in the Cannes Un Certain Regard section – see review and interview) are hitting screens today, launched, respectively, by UGC Distribution in 287 cinemas and by Diaphana on a 222-print run. From a major historical narrative (the reinterpretation of dramatic events in Ouvea, New Caledonia, in 1988 in the middle of the presidential elections in France) to the microcosm of Estaque in Marseilles, these two politically-engaged films carry the torch of a certain spirit of resistance.

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For Kassovitz [pictured], it is even a kind of renaissance after his mixed success with two US films. In Rebellion (which had its world premiere at Toronto), the director of Hate and Crimson Rivers does indeed offer a few moments of bravura showing a cinematic talent that is well above average. Impressive action scenes punctuate this highly ambitious film which Kassovitz and producer Christophe Rossignon (see interview) had in the pipeline for years.

As the director (who also stars in the film) pointed out: "you have two hours to recount ten days of a story that is extremely complex on a historical, cultural, social, military and political level. The whole issue which emerged as I advanced with the story is fascinating. How can politicians be prepared to sacrifice hostages in order to serve their own interests?" For, as the film’s promotional tagline says, "The truth hurts, but lies kill".

Also hitting theatres today are Philippe Ramos’s ascetic The Silence of Joan [+see also:
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(unveiled in the Cannes Directors’ Fortnight – see review - Sophie Dulac Distribution on 30 prints); and Frédéric Jardin’s highly energetic thriller Sleepless Night [+see also:
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making of
interview: David Grumbach
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(see the Making Of with the interviews with Tomer Sisley and Joey Starr - Bac France on 116 prints). The line-up also includes, among others, Pawel Pawlikowski’s French/UK/Polish co-production The Woman in the Fifth [+see also:
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(see news - Haut et Court in 36 cinemas) and two documentaries: May They Rest in Revolt (Figures of War) by France’s Sylvain George (Independancia Distribution) and The Black Power Mixtape [+see also:
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by Sweden’s Göran Olsson (Kannibal Films Distribution).

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(Translated from French)

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