Post by The Ultimate Nullifier on Feb 7, 2015 19:43:27 GMT -6
variety.com/2015/film/global/berlin-tf1s-once-strikes-a-chord-in-post-charlie-hebdo-era-exclusive-1201426191/
Marie-Castille Mention-Schaar’s “Once in a Lifetime” (Les Heritiers) is proving more relevant than ever as the world pays homage to Holocaust victims for the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz and mourns the victims of Paris’ recent terror attacks.
An ode to tolerance, “Once in a Lifetime” stars Ariane Ascaride (“Marius and Jeannette”) and tells the true story of teacher working in a school located in an underprivileged suburb where most kids are minorities. Faced with her students’ own prejudice towards other religions and ethnicities, the professor manages to convince them to take part in a collective project about the Holocaust, an experience that enlightens them.
The film has now sold to 25 territories, including Belgium (Cineart), Switzerland (Pathe), Italy (Lucky Red), Spain (A Contracorriente), Japan (Alcine Terran), Portugal (Outsider), Israel (Lev), Greece (Seven), Hungary (MTVA), Turkey (Kurmaca), Poland (C+), Brazil (Globo TV).
Distributed in France by UGC, the sleeper hit has already grossed $4 million from 510 000 admissions and counting.
The film is inspired by the true story of one of the students of Anne Angles, a motivational history teacher who had her class participate in the annual Concours national de la Resistance et de la Deportation (National Contest of Resistance and Deportation).
Ahmed Dramé, who plays the lead role, has been nominated for a best male newcomer at the Cesar awards.
“The film takes a dimension even more significant right now, as we commemorate the liberation of concentration camps and as we see that many young people continue to fall into the trap of intolerance and prejudice,” said Sabine Chemaly, head of sales at TF1 Intl.
Mention-Schaar concurred, “With the recent events, the majority of French people and politicians have realized how urgent this matter of intolerance has become. The film speaks clearly about the challenge that schools face today is teaching the principles of secularism, freedom of expression, and the difficulty, yet necessity to transmit historical heritage and victims’ memory across generations. ”
Marie-Castille Mention-Schaar’s “Once in a Lifetime” (Les Heritiers) is proving more relevant than ever as the world pays homage to Holocaust victims for the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz and mourns the victims of Paris’ recent terror attacks.
An ode to tolerance, “Once in a Lifetime” stars Ariane Ascaride (“Marius and Jeannette”) and tells the true story of teacher working in a school located in an underprivileged suburb where most kids are minorities. Faced with her students’ own prejudice towards other religions and ethnicities, the professor manages to convince them to take part in a collective project about the Holocaust, an experience that enlightens them.
The film has now sold to 25 territories, including Belgium (Cineart), Switzerland (Pathe), Italy (Lucky Red), Spain (A Contracorriente), Japan (Alcine Terran), Portugal (Outsider), Israel (Lev), Greece (Seven), Hungary (MTVA), Turkey (Kurmaca), Poland (C+), Brazil (Globo TV).
Distributed in France by UGC, the sleeper hit has already grossed $4 million from 510 000 admissions and counting.
The film is inspired by the true story of one of the students of Anne Angles, a motivational history teacher who had her class participate in the annual Concours national de la Resistance et de la Deportation (National Contest of Resistance and Deportation).
Ahmed Dramé, who plays the lead role, has been nominated for a best male newcomer at the Cesar awards.
“The film takes a dimension even more significant right now, as we commemorate the liberation of concentration camps and as we see that many young people continue to fall into the trap of intolerance and prejudice,” said Sabine Chemaly, head of sales at TF1 Intl.
Mention-Schaar concurred, “With the recent events, the majority of French people and politicians have realized how urgent this matter of intolerance has become. The film speaks clearly about the challenge that schools face today is teaching the principles of secularism, freedom of expression, and the difficulty, yet necessity to transmit historical heritage and victims’ memory across generations. ”