Kad Merad

Synopsis: At a French boarding school for 'problem' students, a new music teacher arrives, determined to change his students through singing - even if it means defying the disciplinarian headmaster! An award-winning drama. France - 2004 - PG13

Twenty-five years after rising to international acclaim in Jean de Florette and Manon of the Spring, Daniel Auteuil returns to the world of Marcel Pagnol for his first work as director with this celebrated remake of the 1940s classic. Auteuil stars as the eponymous well-digger Pascale, a widower living with his six daughters in the Provence countryside at the start of World War I. His eldest, Patricia (the luminous Astrid Berg s-Frisbey), has returned home from Paris to help raise her sisters, and Pascale dreams of marrying her off to his loyal assistant Felipe (Kad Merad). But when she's impregnated by a wealthy young pilot (Nicolas Duvauchelle) who promptly abandons her for the frontlines, Pascale is left to contend with the consequences.

Twenty-five years after rising to international acclaim in JEAN DE FLORETTE and MANON OF THE SPRING, Daniel Auteuil returns to the world of Marcel Pagnol for his directorial debut, a celebrated remake of the 1940s classic. Auteuil stars as the eponymous well-digger Pascal, a widower living with his six daughters in the Provence countryside at the start of World War I. His eldest, Patricia (the luminous Astrid Berges-Frisbey), has returned home from Paris to help raise her sisters, and Pascal dreams of marrying her off to his loyal friend Felipe (Kad Merad). But when she's impregnated by a wealthy young pilot (Nicolas Duvauchelle) who promptly abandons her for the frontlines, Pascale is left to contend with the consequences. An exquisitely crafted, sun-drenched melodrama, set to a score by Academy Award-nominee Alexandre Desplat (THE KING'S SPEECH), the film captures all the warmth and humanist spirit of Pagnol's original work.

Set in occupied WWII France, War of the Buttons tells the tale of pre-teen rebel Lebrac (newcomer Jean Texier) and the 'war' he leads between two rival kid gangs from neighboring villages. Once Lebrac falls for Violette (Ilona Bachelier), a young Jewish girl who is new in town and in danger of being exposed by the Nazis, the children are faced with putting their own conflicts aside to protect her and confront the very real war happening around them. Directed by Academy Award(R) nominee Christophe Barratier (Les Chorus) War of the Buttons features model/actress Laetitia Casta (Gainsbourg: A Heroic Life, Arbitrage), actor/filmmaker Guillaume Canet (Farewell, Tell No One) and Welcome to the Sticks star Kad Merad. The film is produced and co-written by Thomas Langmann (Academy Award(R) winner for The Artist).