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Thread: Kung Fu Zohra

  1. #1
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    Kung Fu Zohra

    NEWS FEBRUARY 24, 2020 10:08PM PT
    France’s Les Films du Kiosque Board Nicolas Bedos’, Mabrouk El Mechri’s Next Films (EXCLUSIVE)
    By ELSA KESLASSY
    International Correspondent
    @elsakeslassy

    CREDIT: CANNES FILM FESTIVAL

    Les Films du Kiosque, the Paris-based production company behind Nicolas Bedos’ Cannes-premiering “La Belle Epoque” and Netflix’ hit original “Family Business,” is set to reteam with Bedos on “Masquarade,” and will produce Mabrouk El Mechri’s “Kung Fu Zohra.”

    El Mechri’s film follows Zohra, a young cashier from the suburbs who is being physically abused by her violent husband Omar. Zohra is trying everything she can to shelter her 6-year-old child and sets off to learn how to defend herself. Her life changes after she crosses paths with Chang Sue, a kung fu master who runs the municipal gymnasium. Set to start shooting in March, the film will star Sabrina Ouazani, Ramzy Bedia and Eye Haïdara.

    Gaumont has come on board to acquire French distribution and international sales rights to the film.

    François Kraus and Denis Pineau-Valencienne founded Les Films du Kiosque. Kraus told Variety that “Kung Fu Zohra” was going to be an authentic martial arts comedy with choreographed fight scenes à la “Kill Bill” and “The Karate Kid.” The producer said “Kung Fu Zohra” was also personal project for El Mechri as it pays tribute to his mother, who also faced domestic violence. A French-Tunisian filmmaker, El Mechri previously directed “Virgil,” “JCVD,” “The Cold Light of Day” and the Canal Plus drama series “Maison Close” and “Nox.”

    Bedos’ “Masquerade” is a romantic comedy in the vein of “To Catch a Thief” and “Heartbreaker.”

    Bedos’ “La Belle Epoque,” the highly successful French comedy-drama which world premiered out of competition at Cannes, went on to play at Toronto and was nominated for 11 Cesar Awards (France’s equivalent to the Oscars). “La Belle Epoque” was also sold by Pathé Films to more than 50 territories and an English-language remake of the movie is in the works.

    The company is getting ready for the French release of Martin Provost’s “La Bonne Epouse” with Juliette Binoche on March 11 and is developing the third season of “Family Business,” the popular Netflix series. Les Films du Kiosque is also expected to resume the production of Emmanuelle Bercot’s “De son vivant” later this year after it was interrupted following the hospitalization of Catherine Deneuve.
    Kinda been here, done this, but the French take on it might be intriguing.
    Gene Ching
    Publisher www.KungFuMagazine.com
    Author of Shaolin Trips
    Support our forum by getting your gear at MartialArtSmart

  2. #2
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    Almost wrapped

    Glad some projects are still in production.

    PRODUCTION / FUNDING France
    Kung Fu Zohra enters the home straight
    by Fabien Lemercier

    23/07/2020 - The new film currently being shot by Mabrouk El Mechri - a Les Films du Kiosque production sold by Gaumont – gathers together a cast composed of Sabrina Ouazani, Ramzy Bedia and Eye Haïdara


    Director Mabrouk El Mechri

    Having kicked off on 8 June, filming on Kung Fu Zohra by Mabrouk El Mechri is now set to wrap on 31 July at the Épinay Studios. This will be the filmmaker’s 4th feature film following on from Virgil (2005), JCVD [+] (2008) and the American work The Cold Light of Day (2012). Also the focus of much acclaim for the series Maison close and Nox, the director is uniting the likes of Sabrina Ouazani (revealed in Games of Love and Chance [+], especially impressive in The Past [+], May Allah Bless France [+] and Close Enemies [+], and whom we’ll soon be seeing in Mica), popular actor Ramzy Bedia (at his best in South Terminal [+] and Vandal [+], among other works, and currently touring cinemas in Tout simplement noir [+] and, as of 29 July, in T’as pécho?) and Eye Haïdara (nominated for the Best Supporting Rôle César in 2018 and for the Best Newcomer Lumières Award thanks to her performance in C’est La Vie! [+] ) in the cast of his latest opus.

    Written by El Mechri himself, the screenplay centres around Zohra who is convinced that separating from her husband Omar would break her little girl’s heart and so determines not to leave him despite the violence he metes out. Then she meets Chang Sue, the caretaker of the gym where she works to make ends meet. When she learns that he’s a kung fu master, Zohra asks him to teach her some self-defence basics…

    Produced by 
François Kraus and Denis Pineau-Valencienne on behalf of Les Films du Kiosque, Kung Fu Zohra is co-produced by France 2 Cinéma and Gaumont (with the latter also distributing the film in France and steering international sales). Pre-purchased by Canal+, France Télévisions and TMC, the movie is being shot in its entirety in the Épinay Studios in the Ile-de-France region, with Pierre-Yves ******* heading up photography.

    For the record, other recent works coming via Les Films du Kiosque include the big hits How To Be A Good Wife [+] and La Belle Époque [+] by Martin Provost and Nicolas Bedos respectively. This summer should also see the production house wrap filming on Emmanuelle Bercot’s De son vivant (on which shooting was suspended back in November on account of Catherine Deneuve’s health issues).

    (Translated from French)
    Gene Ching
    Publisher www.KungFuMagazine.com
    Author of Shaolin Trips
    Support our forum by getting your gear at MartialArtSmart

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