Films Distribution & Mercure International at Cannes Film Festival 2004

Earth & Ashes A film by Atiq Rahimi Official Selection - Un Certain Regard - Cannes 2004 Synopis : Dastaguir sits on the side of the road, his young grandson, Yassin, at his side. A desolate Afghan landscape stretches out all around him — a half-demolished bridge, a dry riverbed below and a dusty road that reaches its vanishing point on the horizon. That road leads to a far-off coalmine, Dastaguir’s dreaded destination. He is on a painful journey to see his son, the child’s father, who works in the mines. He must tell him that their village has been bombed and his entire family killed. The old man is torn between his own remorse, his unbearable solitude and codes of honor deeply engrained in the Afghan soul. As he struggles with so many conflicting emotions, Dastaguir encounters several strangers along the way. There’s the sentry house guard, the philosophical roadside merchant, the mysterious veiled woman who waits endlessly, and other victims of this nameless war that goes on somewhere off-screen. Starring Abdul Ghani, Jawan Mard Homayoun, Tallosh Walli. Official Screenings - World Premiere Press Screening - May 13th, 04:30 pm, Salle Debussy Official Screening - May 14th, 03:00 pm, Salle Bazin Market Screenings May 16th, 03:30 pm, Riviera 1 May 17th, 03:30 pm, Riviera 1

PRODUCTION:

Les Films du Lendemain

GENRE:

DRAMA

FORMAT:

35mm / 2.35 (Scope)

LENGTH:

1h43

YEAR:

2004

CQ2 A film by Carole Laure International Critics' Week - Cannes 2004 Synopis : CQ2 (seek you too) is the story of a teenager, with an uncertain future, who canalises her lust for life in the study of contemporary dance. Starring Clara Furey, Danielle Hubbard, Mireille Thibault, Jean-Marc Barr. Official Screenings - World Premiere May 19th, 11:00 am, 11h Espace Miramar May 19th, 05:30 pm, Espace Miramar May 19th, 10:30 pm, Espace Miramar May 20th, 08:30 am, Palais des Festival Salle Bunuel May 20th, 02:00 pm, Théatre de la Licorne May 20th, 08:30 pm, Espace de la Vignasse - Valbonne May 21st, 04:30 pm, Studio 13 Market Screening May 18th, 04:00 pm, Riviera 4

PRODUCTION:

Cité-Amérique, Les Productions Laure

GENRE:

DRAMA

FORMAT:

35 mm / 1.85

LENGTH:

1h40

YEAR:

2004

They came back A film by Robin Campillo Synopis : The dead are coming back by thousands... In the world, millions of deceased left there cemetery to the towns. One central question is to be answered: how can living and dead manage to live together... Starring Géraldine Pailhas, Jonathan Zaccaï, Frédéric Pierrot. Market Screenings - World Premiere May 14th, 02:00 pm, Riviera 4 May 18th, 10:00 am, Riviera 2 May 20th, 02:00 pm, Riviera 2

PRODUCTION:

Haut & Court

GENRE:

DRAMA

FORMAT:

35 mm

LENGTH:

1h43

YEAR:

2003

Three Dancing Slaves A film by Gaël Morel Synopis : Through the portrait of three brothers, the story of a revenge that, benign at first, takes on tragic proportions until it forces each of the brothers to adopt a clear-cut position in relation to each other. Starring Stéphane Rideau, Nicolas Cazalé. Market Screenings - World Premiere May 15th, 10:00 am, Riviera 4 May 17th, 02:00 pm, Riviera 4 May 19th, 04:00 pm, Riviera 2

PRODUCTION:

Sepia Production

GENRE:

SOCIAL DRAMA

FORMAT:

35 mm

LENGTH:

1h30

YEAR:

2004

The Other Side of the Street A film by Marcos Bernstein Synopis : Regina, a lonely 65 year old who works on the neighbourhood watch for the police in Copacabana, believes to have witnessed a murder in the building across the street, and ends up getting involved with the suspect in a potentially dangerous chain of events that will force her to take stock of her life in a way that she could have never imagined. Starring Fernanda Montenegro, Raul Cortez. Market Screenings May 17th, 11:30 am, Riviera 1 May 19th, 11:30 am, Riviera 1

PRODUCTION:

Escazal Films, Columbia Tristar Films

GENRE:

DRAMA

FORMAT:

35mm / 1.85

LENGTH:

1h38

YEAR:

2003

L'Esquive A film by Abdellatif Kechiche Synopis : For Krimo, a teenager living in the suburbs of Paris, days go by, carying the weight of his boredom around the neighbourhoodS Until a few lines from a 19th century play echo in an open field, and suddenly nothing seems quite the same anymore : Lydia, all dressed-up in her theatre costume, is rehearsing the school play. And Krimo falls in love with her. Despite the reputation Krimo has to sustain, he will accept a role in the play in order to declare his love. Will he find the right words? Starring Osman Elkharraz, Sara Forestier, Sabrina Ouazani, Hajar Hamlili, Rachid Hami. Market Screening May 16th, 02:00 pm, Riviera 2

PRODUCTION:

Noé Productions Int. Lola Films

GENRE:

COMEDY / DRAMA

FORMAT:

35mm / 1.85 / DOLBY SR

LENGTH:

1h57

YEAR:

2003

Le Grand Rôle A film by Steve Suissa Synopis : Maurice, Sami, Simon, Elie and Edouard are still unknown actors despite their late thirties. But one day, Grinchenberg, the famous American director, comes to Paris looking for the lead role in his Yiddish adaptation of the Merchant of Venice. Maurice gets the part ! It is the major breakthrough he has been waiting for. He rushes home to proudly announce the big news to his wife Perla. But Perla also has news for him: she is very ill… Unfortunately, the part eventually goes to a famous American star. Maurice doesn’t have the heart to tell Perla… With his friends’ help, he will go all the way to make his wife believe that he still has the part, and will end up playing the role of his life to protect her. Starring Stéphane Freiss, Bérénice Béjo, François Berléand and Peter Coyote. Market Screenings May 13th, 04:00 pm, Riviera 2 May 16th, 11:30 am, Riviera 1

PRODUCTION:

Les Films de l'Espoir

GENRE:

COMEDY / DRAMA

FORMAT:

35mm / 1.85

LENGTH:

1h29

YEAR:

2003

Textiles A film by Franck Landron

Synopis : Sophie and Olivier are a young couple with 2 children. They work hard in their parisian bakery. Sophie feels that her husband doesn’t pay much attention to her anymore… One day, Sophie and Olivier come across an add in their own shop: the beach house they’ve been dreaming about for so long, is for sale. Taken over by the terrific bargain, the young couple decides to buy the house without even visiting it. Little do they know that there is a hitch to it all, and that they are now the happy owners of a home in a nudist village... Starring Barbara Schulz, Alexandre Brasseur. Market Screenings May 14th, 10:00 am, Riviera 4 May 15th, 03:30 pm, Riviera 1

PRODUCTION:

Les Films en Hiver

GENRE:

COMEDY

FORMAT:

35mm / 1.66

LENGTH:

1h30

YEAR:

2003

Wild Side A film by Sébastien Lifshitz Synopis : Mikaïl and Jamel share Stephanie’s bed, a young transexual prostitute. Despite their chaotic lives, the three of them find comfort in each other’s arms. Starring Stéphanie Michelini, Edouard Nikitine, Yasmine Belmadi. Market Screenings May 15th, 02:00 pm, Riviera 2 May 20th, 11:30 am, Riviera 1

PRODUCTION:

Maïa Films, Zephyr Films, YC Aligator Films

GENRE:

DRAMA

FORMAT:

35mm

LENGTH:

1h43

YEAR:

2003

Memoria del Saqueo, A Social Genocide A film by Fernando E. Solanas Synopis : The dramatic circumstances which we are living out bring me back to my very beginnings in the cinema, thirty-five years ago, when my search for a political identity and my desire to struggle against the dictatorship led me to shoot The Hour of the Furnaces. Circumstances have greatly changed, but the consequences of the neo-liberal plan have today proved so disastrous that, once again, I am forced to bear witness to memories and testimonies by composing a living fresco based on what we have supported and endured over the past twenty-five years, from Videla's dictatorship to today. It is in this manner that I wish to contribute to the urgent debate that Argentina, Latin America and the world at large are conducting, which, as its driving force, the certainty that, faced with dehumanized globalization, "another world is possible". Market Screening May 14th, 04:00 pm, Riviera 2

PRODUCTION:

ADR Poductions, Thelma Film AG, Cinesur S.A.

GENRE:

DOCUMENTARY

FORMAT:

35mm / 1.85

LENGTH:

2h00

YEAR:

2003

With George Bush on my Mind A film by Joaquin Oristrell Synopis : While travelling through the country with its latest play, a Spanish theatre company looses its lead role in a car accident. Jorge Ruiz, a young newcomer, takes over the part. Almost instantly, his provocative attitude awakens hidden conflicts. As a political activist, Jorge decides to read a declaration against the war in Iraq at each performance. Some of the actors disapprove and the theatre company implodes… Starring Javier Camara, Juan Diego Botto, Elvira Minguez, Maria Botto. Market Screening May 19th, 10:00 am, Riviera 2

PRODUCTION:

Garbo Producciones, Centro de Nuevos Creadores

GENRE:

DRAMA

FORMAT:

35 mm / 1.85 / Dolby SRD

LENGTH:

1h30

YEAR:

2003

In Post-Production The Silence A film by Orso Miret Synopis : Olivier (35 years old) is on holiday in Corsica in the small mountain village where his mother was born. He is with his girl friend, Marianne who is nearly three months pregnant. Olivier is clearly very attached to his Corsican roots, even if he is sometimes made to feel a bit like an outsider – and even if he himself is uneasy about assuming an identity which is not quite his own. The peacefulness of their stay is brutally broken: he is the sole witness to a murder committed by a young man from the same village and whom he has clearly recognized. Fearing that he will become a persona non grata in the village if he denounces the killer, Olivier decides to keep quiet. For how long? Starring Mathieu Demy, Natacha Régnier, Thierry De Peretti.

PRODUCTION:

Sunday Morning

GENRE:

DRAMA My father is an Engineer A film by Robert Guédiguian Synopis : The story of a man and a woman who, since childhood, cannot live separated one from another. They have grown up to become doctors. Their careers are starting to drive them apart, but not for long : against all odds, they have chosen to fight against fate and reality, and to remain together… Starring Ariane Ascaride, Jean-Pierre Darroussin.

PRODUCTION:

Agat Films & Cie

GENRE:

DRAMA Bottoms Up A film by Marion Vernoux A doctor undergoing alcoholic detoxification, a receptionnist at odds with her boyfriend and a technical salesman looking for adventure, all meet in the ski resort of Val d'Isère.They decide to drink their idleness and loneliness away, roaming from bar to bar... Starring Emmanuelle Béart, Edouard Baer.

PRODUCTION:

ADR Productions Victory A film by Stéphane Murat Starring Sylvie Testud, Mylène Demongeot, Pierre Arditi.

PRODUCTION:

ADR Productions

Now Shooting Live & Become A film by Radu Mihaileanu (from the director of "Train of Life") Ethiopia. From November 20 1984 to January 4 1985, Israel and the United States take the initiative of a vast action, which will bring thousands of Ethiopian Jews (Falashas) into Israel. A non-Jew Ethiopian mother forces her son to declare himself Jewish so as to save him from starvation and death. Though neither of them descends from the people of Israel. The child arrives in the holy land. Considered an orphan, the boy is adopted by a French Sephardi family who lives in Tel-Aviv. He grows up with the fear that the truth will be discovered together with his double lie: he is neither a Jew nor an orphan, only a black boy. The boy finds out about love, Judaism, the western culture but also about racial prejudice and war in the Occupied Territories. He will grow up to be Jewish-Israeli-French-Tunisian but he will never forget his real mother and his true identity: he is an Ethiopian who has survived. Starring Yaël Abecassis, Roschdy Zem. PRODUCTION : Elvévir

Pre-Production Un Fil à la Patte A film by Michel Deville Starring Charles Berling, Emmanuelle Béart, Patrick Timsit, Vincent Elbaz. PRODUCTION : Elefilm Les Amants Réguliers A film by Philippe Garrel Starring Louis Garrel. PRODUCTION : Maïa Films

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