News

These days, the number of indies premiering on a weekly basis can be both thrilling and intimidating. To help sift through the number of new releases (independent or otherwise), we've created the Weekly Film Guide. Below you'll find basic plot, personnel and cinema information for today's fresh offerings.  Happy viewing! Here are the films opening theatrically in the U.S. the week of Friday, May 30th. (Synopses provided by distributor unless listed otherwise.) Age of Uprising: The Legend of Michael Kohlhaas Director: Arnaud des PallièresCast: Mads Mikkelsen, Mélusine Mayance, Delphine Chuillot, David Kross, Bruno Ganz, Denis Lavant, Roxane Duran, Paul Bartel, David Bennent, Swann Arlaud, Sergi Lopez, Amira Casar, Jacques Nolot, Christian Chaussex, Jean-Louis Coulloc'h, Laurent Delbecque, Guillaume DelaunaySynopsis: "With the age of feudalism in decline, Europe rests at a tense crossroads between the old world and the new. Respected, well-to-do horse merchant Michael...

Sundance Selects has acquired U.S. rights to Francois Ozon's Cannes Film Festival competition title 'Young & Beautiful.' Full press release below. Cannes, France (May 22, 2013) – Sundance Selects announced today from the 2013 Cannes Film Festival that the company is acquiring U.S. rights to writer-director François Ozon's Young & Beautiful from Wild Bunch. The film, with a star-making turn by Marine Vacth in thelead role, also stars Geraldine Pailhas, Frederic Pierrot, Fantin Ravat, Johan Leysen, Charlotte Rampling, Nathalie Richard, Djedje Apali, Lucas Prisor, Laurent Delbecque, Jeanne Ruff, and Serge Hefez. Produced by Eric & Nicolas Altmayer, and with a screenplay by Ozon, Young & Beautiful made its world premiere this week in Competition at the festival.Ozon’s film Swimming Pool was in Competition at the 2003 Cannes Film Festival. Ozon's Young & Beautiful is a provocative drama about a young woman coming of age from her sexual awakening to...

Sundance Selects has picked up N. American film distribution rights to the drama which also stars Geraldine Pailhas, Frederic Pierrot, Fantin Ravat, Johan Leysen, Charlotte Rampling, Nathalie Richard, Djedje Apali, Lucas Prisor, Laurent Delbecque, Jeanne Ruff, and Serge Hefez, reports Deadline. The French title also known as Jeune & jolie, which is written and helmed by François Ozon, tells of seventeen-year-old Isabelle, who is starting to explore her sexuality. Pic takes place over a year and is split into four segments, each of which is separated by a Françoise Hardy song. Covers her journey of losing her virginity and taking on a life of prostitution. Eric Altmayer and Nicolas Altmayer produce.

Early One Morning / De Bon Matin

Writer/Director: Jean-Marc Moutout

2010, France / Belgium

Are work-related problems driving you over the edge? Just minutes into Jean-Marc Moutout’s Early One Morning, a middle-aged businessman starts his day by coolly gunning down a couple of colleagues. As the killer waits quietly in his office, Moutout spends the next 90 minutes explaining what drove him to this shocking act of violence.

With its focus on the ongoing banking crisis and workplace stress, Early One Morning could have been conceived as a scathing satire or a pitch-black comedy. Instead Moutout, who also made the workplace drama Work Hard, Play Hard (2003), has taken the serious approach. What follows is a sad, thought-provoking but never mawkish story about the unravelling life of middle-aged bank executive Paul Wertret (superbly played by Jean-Pierre Darroussin).

The film begins with Paul’s meticulous preparations for what will be his final morning at Bicf in Annecy,...