BERLIN – Paris-based Films Distribution has closed a robust brace of first-round pre-sales on Italian Palme d’Or winner Nanni Moretti’s “Mia madre,” which looks a good bet for festivals later this year.
The director’s hallmark mix of drama and comedy, including sardonic satire, “Mia madre,” now in late post, stars Margherita Buy (“The Caiman,” “Days and Clouds”), in her third collaboration with Moretti, as what’s said to be a Moretti alter ego: a film director whose assured persona on set contrasts with her doubts and fears as she cares for her ailing mother at home.
Reportedly a scream, John Turturro plays a famous, demanding American actor while Moretti limns the director’s brother.
Fandango Films, which co-produces out of Italy with Moretti’s Sacher Film, has Italian rights. Jean Labadie’s Le Pacte, “Madre Mia’s” French producer, will release “Mia Madre” in France.
In early pre-sales, mostly closed on the first day of trading at Berlin’s European Film Market, “Mia madre” has licensed Japan (Kino Films), Brazil (California Filmes), Sweden (Folkets Bio) and Benelux (Cineart).
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Also sold are Austria (ThimFilm), Israel (Lev Cinema), Portugal (Leopardo Filmes) and Switzerland (Frenetic Films).
“The extracts we showed at Berlin are spectacular, hilarious. This a Nanni Moretti movie with Nanni Moretti in his own movie,” said Fims Distribution’s Nicolas Brigaud-Robert, adding that sales have also been partly galvanized by “Mia Madre’s” Italy April release date, encouraging distributors to buy before the film maybe catching fire in its domestic market.
