Despite difficulties in gaining exposure in the British market, French films are currently flying high across the Channel.
With several large-scale launches and a host of slightly less ambitious releases in the space of a few weeks, French films are enjoying a strong presence on British screens at this time. A wide-scale publicity campaign currently underway includes posters in the underground and at theaters, postcards, magazine covers, preview screenings with Q&A sessions, and excellent media coverage. Box office receipts reflect this renewed interest in French fare, with two films breaking into the Top10.
Tell No One by Guillaume Canet was released June 15 on 55 prints by Revolver Entertainment. The film is holding onto 8th place at the box office for its second consecutive week, and has already raked in £450,000 (90,000 admissions) after 10 days on the screens. The film’s success has been bolstered by the notoriety Harlan Coben, author of the novel on which the film is based. The film’s distributor has pulled out all the stops, ensuring the presence of the director and cast members at a number of screenings.
Released last Friday on 58 prints by Icon, La Vie en Rose by Olivier Dahan has put in a fine performance: £206 000 (42,000 admissions) in three days, ranking it at number 6 at the box office. These recent results confirm the film’s success in English-speaking countries, after tallying $4 million in North America in three weeks with its release tipped to be extended to 60 American cities next weekend.
With slightly more modest success, two auteur films distributed by Artificial Eye are also making their mark in Britain: Inside Paris by Christophe Honoré, released at the end of April, has pulled in £60,000, and Not Here to Be Loved by Stéphane Brizé, released early June, has already grossed £43,000 in London alone. This film has met with wide critical acclaim, with Time Out praising it as “One of the best French films of the year.”
Optimum has also released two French films recently, both of which are still holding strong on the screens: My Best Friend by Patrice Leconte, released at the end of April, boasts a surprising box office score of £370,000. Orchestra Seats (aka Avenue Montaigne) by Danièle Thompson is currently at £140 000.
Most of these titles were included in the "Rendezvous with French Cinema” program held in London in March. A host of French actors and directors traveled to London for this event to promote their films in the lead-up to their release.
Another international hit film, The Science of Sleep by Michel Gondry, was released in Britain by Warner in February, and is coming close to attaining £550,000.
The big winner in this territory at this time, however, is Arthur and the Minimoys (aka Arthur and the Invisibles by Luc Besson, which has achieved its best European score in England, with £5.6 million in the till.
A dozen other French films are awaiting release in Britain this summer, some of which to be offered large-scale releases, such as Paris je t'aime, Molière, Lady Chatterley, and I Did It My Way. The results of these coming releases will no doubt impact on future acquisitions of French titles in the United Kindgom.
Media Gallery
Guillaume Canet et François Cluzet au Rendez-vous with french cinema 2007
Anne Consigny et Patrick Chesnais au Rendez-Vous with french cinema 2007
Dany Boon au Rendez-Vous with French Cinema 2007
Marion Cotillard au Rendez-vous with french cinema 2007
