Last year, producer Emmanuel Benbihy revealed that follow up anthology projects to “Paris Je T’Aime” and “New York, I Love You,” set in Shanghai, Rio de Janiero and Jerusalem, were already in the works. And indeed they still are. Currently walking the Cannes marketplace looking for buyers, reps for WestEnd Films, who have the worldwide rights to the project, have announced an impressive slate of directors for the upcoming films.
First up, and set to start shooting in October, is “Shanghai, I Love You” with Jim Sheridan, Lu Chuan (“Kekexili: Mountain Patrol”) and Gabriele Muccino (“Seven Pounds”) among the first of the confirmed directors. In 2011, two ‘Cities Of Love’ projects will go in front of cameras. “Rio, I Love You” with Fernando Meirelles, José Padilha (“Elite Squad”), and Guillermo Arriaga attached will lens first, while later in the year “Jerusalem, I Love You” will shoot with Etgar Keret (“Jellyfish”) and Joseph Cedar (“Campfire”) among the early talent involved.
As a concept, ‘Cities Of Love’ isn’t bad, but as with most omnibus projects, consistency is a factor. While the good outweighed the bad on “Paris Je T’aime” (and the good shorts, were often remarkable with standout spots from guys like Alexander Payne, Walter Salles and Gus Van Sant), “New York, I Love You” was not only uninspired, its most egregious crime was that it barely paid tribute to the city it was in. It really could’ve been set in any standard American metropolis and viewers really wouldn’t be able to tell the difference. We like the talent that’s circling the new films, but given that the producers seem to want to crank these out as quickly as possible, we worry that the task of writing some decent stories is going to be left behind.
No word yet on release dates or casting, but as directors get lined up, those details should be filled in shortly.