Drafthouse Films has acquired U.S. rights to Michel Gondry’s “Mood Indigo” from Studiocanal, the distributor announced Monday.
A return to the surreal landscape of emotion and imagination for Gondry, “Mood Indigo” showcases the acclaimed auteur’s signature whimsical aesthetics, gorgeous cinematography and colorfully eccentric characters.
The film is a love story set in a charmingly surreal Paris about two newlyweds, Chloe (Audrey Tautou) and Colin (Romain Duris), whose whirlwind courtship is tested when an unusual illness plagues Chloe — a flower begins to grow in her lungs.
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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, Aïssa Maïga and Gad Elmaleh. Drafthouse is planning a multi-city traditional theatrical platform release for 2014.
“Mood Indigo” made its world premiere at the Karovly Vary Film Festival before its U.S. debut at Fantastic Fest in September, for which Gondry created a shorter cut for international audiences.
TheWrap’s own Todd Gilchrist said 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.”
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“Reading Boris Vian accompanied my adolescence and participated to the development of my creativity,” explained 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, and her storybook romance with co-star Romain Duris is set perfectly within a quirky, visually stunning fantasyland that only Michel Gondry could imagine,” added Drafthouse Films founder Tim League.
The deal was negotiated by James Emanuel Shapiro on behalf of Drafthouse Films and Vanessa Saal, senior VP of international sales for Studiocanal.
Drafthouse Films is the film distribution arm of the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema.