Canadian-based Neoclassics Films has acquired all U.S. rights to the international hit thriller “L’Affaire Farewell” from Pathé International. A film by Christian Carion, whose “Merry Christmas” was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Film in 2006, and produced by Christophe Rossignon, the cold war era spy epic recounts the true story of the biggest theft of Soviet secret information in history.
At the height of the Cold War in the early 1980s, the French intelligence service alerted the U.S. about extensive Soviet spy infiltration at all levels of the U.S. government, which sets off an unforeseen chain of events.
Based on the book Bonjour Farewell by Serguei Kostine, the film boasts a strong international cast starring two noted film directors who are also respected actors, Guillaume Canet and Emir Kusturica. The ensemble also includes Alexandra Maria Lara, Ingeborda Dapkunaite, Diane Kruger, Willem Dafoe, Fred Ward and David Soul. “L’Affaire Farewell” cost $25 million to produce and has a multi-lingual soundtrack in French, English and Russian.
This story of intrigue, which world-premiered at the Telluride Film Festival and went on to the Toronto International Film Festival this past September, has generated strong box office response in France, grossing more than $7 million to date.
“We’re delighted we can bring ‘L’Affaire Farewell’ to U.S. audiences,” said Irwin Olian, CEO of NeoClassics. “This film’s true story is one of the great spy tales of all time, yet it is little known outside of France and least of all in the U.S. The film’s terrific direction, performances, international story of intrigue and cast will combine to ensure its exposure and success in this market.”
NeoClassics plans a May theatrical release commencing in New York and Los Angeles, and expanding thereafter to other major domestic markets.
Interesting!