Assayas Taking On ’70s Coming Of Age Tale ‘Something In The Air’; Kiarostami Tackling Japanese-Language Relationship Pic ‘The End’
In the thick of the Berlin Film Festival market, MK2 Productions have revealed they are are going full steam ahead with new projects, getting behind Olivier Assayas and Abbas Kiarostami for follow ups to their respective hits at the Cannes Film Festival last year, “Carlos” and “Certified Copy.”
After his three-part, six-hour epic based on the life of Venezuelean terrorist Carlos the Jackal, Assayas is set to tackle something of a smaller scope but no less interesting — a ’70’s coming-of-age tale titled “Apres mai” (“Something In The Air“) which will begin lensing at the end of May in Italy, France and England.
The story will center on the “difficulties of freedom” and follow an 18 year old as he “reacts to the rapid social change and political activism [that] begun in the late ’60’s.” Also written by the helmer, script is noted to be predominantly French-language but will also feature English and Italian dialogue. “It’s not a French story,” MK2 head Nathanael Karmitz assures. “It’s about the world in the ’70’s.”
Like Assayas, Kiarostami will be follow his Cannes successes with something a little different. The Iranian director will be tackling a Japanese-language film titled “The End” with young actress Aoi Miyazaki in the lead role. Described as something of a “continuation of ‘Certified Copy,'” the story will center on a “contemporary relationship in today’s Japan,” Karmitz revealed. Budgets for the films are noted to be $6.8 m and $4.8m respectively.
MK2’s “On The Road,” meanwhile, is still in post-production and is already set for a December 7th release in France but here’s a new look at leads Sam Riley and Garrett Hedlund. Another MK2-associated project, by the way, is Xavier Dolan‘s next film “Laurence Anyways” which will begin shooting later this month — it’s a story that follows a heterosexual relationship which sees the husband seeking a sex change. [Variety]