31/01/2007

Two of today’s new releases are drawing attention to domestic production (see news): Thierry Knauff’s Solo + A mains nues and Belgian/Quebec title Congorama [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] (see interview with Olivier Gourmet).

Last week, Private Property [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] – the third feature by Joachim Lafosse (see interview), also from the Tarantula slate (a French co-production) – opened on Belgian screens after sold-out preview screenings thanks to excellent word-of-mouth and glowing reviews, following its screening at the Venice Film Festival (see article).

This week, two other Belgian productions are gracing screens. Cartoonist Picha is directing her fifth animated feature, Snow White: The Sequel [+see also:
trailer
film profile], about the adventures of the not-so-innocent princess once she ties the knot. The voices are supplied by Cécile de France and Jean-Paul Rouve.

Produced by Y.C. Aligator Film and DeFamilieJanssen, in association with France’s Tchin Tchin Production, UK outfit Steve Walsh Productions (Stephen Fry will be the narrator of the English version) and Poland’s Orange Studio Reklamy, the film is opening through Cinéart, while Celluloid Dreams will handle international sales.

Meanwhile, Flemish title Ex Drummer [+see also:
trailer
film profile] by Koen Mortier hits screens after appearances at Gothenburg and at Rotterdam, where the film was in the running for the Tiger Awards (see news). The director’s debut feature is being distributed by the new Belgian branch of Dutch outfit A-Film.

Featuring a fine cast and great soundtrack, this trashy, offbeat rock comedy is being sold worldwide by France’s Wide Management.

Rounding off this week’s Belgian-made new releases is a Chad/French/Austrian co-production from the Entre Chien et Loupslate, Mahamat-Saleh Haroun’s magnificent Daratt – Dry Season [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] (Cinélibre).

In European releases, France steals the spotlight from Belgium for the third week running with seven features: Jacquou Le Croquant [+see also:
trailer
film profile], The Snake [+see also:
trailer
film profile], Crime Insiders [+see also:
trailer
film profile], Have Mercy on Us All [+see also:
trailer
film profile] (with Belgian actress Marie Gillain), Ambitious [+see also:
trailer
film profile], L'île au trésor [+see also:
trailer
film profile] and Molière [+see also:
trailer
film profile].

Other new releases to watch out for are Argentinean/Spanish title, The Method [+see also:
trailer
film profile], along with two high-quality German films: Pingpong [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Matthias Luthardt
interview: Sebastian Urzendowsky
film profile] (see Focus) and The Lives of Others [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Florian Henckel von Donners…
interview: Ulrich Muehe
film profile] (see Focus), released by Imagine Film and Abc, respectively.

(Translated from French)