For those of you in NYC, here’s what may be your only opportunity to see Sylvain White’s film adaptation of French author Jean-Christophe Grangé’s thriller "Miserere" – a project we’ve been tracking since inception.
Titled "La marque des anges" ("The Mark of Angels"), the film will screen at the 22nd edition of the New York African Diaspora International Film Festival, which runs from November 28 to December 14, 2014.
Marking director Sylvain White’s first work since "The Losers" in 2010, here’s a description of "La marque des anges" ("The Mark of Angels"): "Paris. A choir master is found mysteriously murdered in a church, his eardrums blown out. Investigating is homicide Police Commander LIONEL KASDAN, just-retired but desperate to come back to action. Kasdan teams with Interpol Captain FRANK SALEK, a short-tempered younger cop. Together, they try to uncover the secrets of an international organization and crack this unusual case, leading to the captain’s childhood and a dark secret from his past."
It’s said to be quite dark and macabre, and one of author Jean-Christophe’s best and most disturbing thrillers, that involves human scientific experiments and much more.
In Sylvain White’s adaptation, Gérard Depardieu plays the veteran cop, and French rapper-turned-actor Joeystarr is the short-tempered younger cop.
From the looks of it, comparisons to films like "Seven" will probably happen.
Thierry Lhermitte, Belgian actress Helena Noguerra, and Swiss actress Marthe Keller round out what appears to be a rather strong cast.
Produced by Stéphane Sperry for Liaison Films, the all-French production of Miserere was made for €15m (or about $20 million), with backing from Pathé Films, as well as pre-sales by Canal + and Ciné+.
The film was shot mostly in Paris, and a few locations in Belgium as well.
It’s already been released in France, and, I believe, a few other European territories. And it hasn’t screened for US audiences yet, so consider this opportunity to see it a treat, and take advantage!
It screens thrice at the ADIFF:
– Sunday, Nov. 30 @ 7:30PM – at the Thalia — BUY TICKETS
– Tuesday, Dec. 2 @ 8:30PM – at the Thalia — BUY TICKETS
– Thursday, Dec. 11 @ 5PM – at the Quad — BUY TICKETS
I hope I can catch one of those screenings – likely the last one on the 11th. So maybe I’ll see you there.
It’s good to see Sylvain getting behind the camera for another feature film again.
Here’s the film’s trailer, which isn’t subtitled in English, but below it, you’ll find a transcript/English translation of what’s said in it:
LIONEL
40 years of my life hunting down criminals and suddenly nothing.
LIONEL
Did they pierce his eardrums?
CORONER
More than just the eardrums, the entire ear was destroyed.
V.O.
Why don’t you let the police handle all of this?
LIONEL
I can’t help it.
FRANK
Frank Salek from Interpol and you are?
LIONEL
Lionel Kasdan, BRI.
FRANK
The French police has no age cap, huh?
FRANK
The list comes from a group that kidnaps orphans around the world.
LIONEL
Well, that’s already two dead from your list.
FRANK
And why would I bother working with a retiree like you?
LIONEL
Because you look like you’d fuck up when you’re working alone.
WOMAN
Frank, I swear they won’t miss you.
UNKNOWN
It’s my investigation not theirs.
FRANK
That thing he had me hold … Too much violence, man. We have to stop these guys.
LIONEL
[unintelligible]
PRIEST
The concert can begin.
CHOIR SINGING.
LIONEL
I found myself powerless, unable to do anything.
FRANK
I need real, concrete answers.
WOMAN
You realize you may never catch them.
FRANK
What’s important is that I start looking, otherwise I’m dead.
PRIEST
The concert can begin.
