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RELEASES Belgium

Séraphine takes on Public Enemy Number One (Part 1)

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At first glance, there appears to be an unfair duel in Belgian theatres this week: the highly anticipated Public Enemy Number One (Part 1) [+see also:
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film profile
]
is competing for audiences alongside the less commercial Séraphine [+see also:
trailer
film profile
]
.

Even before shooting began, the story behind Public Enemy Number One (Part 1) is a drama in itself. Linked for many years to actor Vincent Cassel, the film was originally set to be directed by Barbet Schroeder. The project was also connected to a string of actors who then pulled out, including Benoît Magimel and Marion Cotillard.

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Having finally ended up in the hands of director Jean-François Richet, the first instalment of this biopic made for a sizeable €44m is being released today in France and Belgium after a targeted promotional campaign. Launched in France by Pathé Cinéma, the film also offers a chance of redemption for Thomas Langmann’s La Petite Reine, after the relatively unsuccessful Asterix at the Olympic Games [+see also:
trailer
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]
.

Released on a 27-print run by Kinepolis Film Distribution in Flanders and Wallonia, the film thus starts out on an almost equal footing with Guillermo del Toro’s Hollywood blockbuster Hellboy II: The Golden Army.

At the other end of the spectrum, Cinéart are hoping for success with Martin Provost’s Séraphine [+see also:
trailer
film profile
]
, after its enthusiastic reception at the latest Gand Film Festival. Audiences, journalists and various juries were impressed with the remarkable lead performance by Belgian actress Yolande Moreau. Winner of the Valois Award for Best Actress at the latest Angoulême Film Festival, she also received a special mention from the Gand jury.

Séraphine – produced by France’s TS Productions – is co-produced by Belgium’s Climax Films (20% investment). Although the film is only being released on seven screens, positive word-of-mouth is expected to guarantee its success. The title has also got off to a good start in France, where it was launched three weeks ago.

Four other European co-productions are hitting screens: German director Denis Gansel’s The Wave (see interview), Isabel Coixet’s Elegy [+see also:
trailer
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]
(US/Spain), Karim Dridi’s French film Khamsa [+see also:
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]
and Jacques Doillon’s Just Anybody [+see also:
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]
(France/Belgium).

Finally, another Belgian release is causing a stir this week: Loft [+see also:
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]
by Erik Van Looy (director of the sensational box office hit The Alzheimer Case [+see also:
trailer
film profile
]
). This is certainly a film to watch out for.

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(Translated from French)

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