Drafthouse Films, the film distribution arm of the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, announced today the acquisition from Studiocanal of US rights to acclaimed auteur Michel Gondry's (Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind) return to the surreal landscape of emotion and imagination Mood Indigo. Showcasing Gondry's signature whimsical aesthetics, gorgeous cinematography and colorfully eccentric characters, Mood Indigo is a love story set in a charmingly surreal Paris about two newlyweds, Chloe (Audrey Tautou, Amélie, Coco Before Chanel) and Colin (Romain Duris, The Beat My Heart Skipped), whose whirlwind courtship is tested when an unusual illness plagues Chloe; a flower begins to grow in her lungs. Adapted from Boris Vian's novel L'Ecume des jours, the romantic saga was produced by Luc Bossi of Brio Films and also stars Omar Sy (The Intouchables), Aïssa Maïga (Caché) and Gad Elmaleh. A multi-city traditional theatrical platform release is planned for 2014.
Already receiving high praise from its World Premiere at the Karovly Vary Film Festival, Mood Indigo was equally well received with its US debut at Fantastic Fest in September with a shorter cut Gondry created for international audiences.
"Mood Indigo is propelled by sharp, witty dialogue complimented by Gondry's continually stupendous sense of visual capture." according to Bill Graham of thefilmstage.com and Todd Ghilchrist of The Wrap says the film "perfectly balances Gondry's ornamental creativity and the verité storytelling of his more recent work, combining refined style and raw emotion into one devastating, beautiful package. It's also (Gondry's) most accomplished and powerful film in almost a decade."
"Reading Boris Vian accompanied my adolescence and participated to the development of my creativity," says director Michel Gondry, "I was honored to be asked to direct an adaptation of his most famous work. I put all of me into it."
"Not since Amelie have we seen Audrey Tautou so undeniably whimsical and charming," says Drafthouse Films founder TimLeague. "and her storybook romance with co-star
Romain Duris is set perfectly within a quirky, visually-stunning fantasyland that only Michel Gondry could imagine."
The deal was negotiated by James Emanuel Shapiro on behalf of Drafthouse Films and Vanessa Saal Senior VP international sales at Studiocanal.
For theatrical bookings contact Sumyi Khong Antonson, VP of Marketing and Distribution at [email protected]. For festival bookings contact Jon Stobezki, Festival Director at [email protected].
