Indie distributor Strand releasing has acquired North American rights to two French-language films, the musical "Jeanne et le garcon formidable" and "Dry Cleaning."
"Jeanne," which is directed by Olivier Ducastel and Jacques Martineau, screened in competition at the Berlin Film Festival. The edgy love story, set in contemporary Paris, stars Virginie Ledoyen ("The Ceremony") and Mathieu Demy.
The pic was produced by Cyriac Auriol and Pauline Duhault for Les Film du Requin.
"This is a film which conveys the utter joy and real suffering of living and loving through song, dance and drama," said Strand co-president Jon Gerrans, who repped the company in negotiations with John Kochman of Canal Plus.
"Dry Cleaning," the feature debut of director Anne Fontaine, won the best screenplay award at the 1997 Venice Film Festival and a Cesar Award for best new actor.
Fontaine received acclaim as the director of "Augustin," an hourlong short which screened at the New York Film Festival and enjoyed a successful theatrical release in France.
"Dry Cleaning," a psychological drama about a love triangle gone bad, was produced by Philippe Carcassonne and Alain Sarde.
Gerrans' partner Marcus Hu said of the film, " 'Dry Cleaning' succeeds at being unsettling while making the unbelievable adventure of an ordinary couple ring true and meaningful for an audience."
The film makes its U.S. debut at the City of Lights, City of Angels French film fest, which runs April 28-May 2.
Gerrans negotiated the deal with Eric Lagesse of Flach Pyramide and Canal Plus' Kochman.
Strand is currently distributing the Oscar-nominated documentary "Ayn Rand -- A Sense of Life," "Genealogies of a Crime" and "Nenette and Boni."
Upcoming releases include Sundance preem "Lawn Dogs," "I Think I Do" and "Love Is the Devil."
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