A feature film by  Rithy Panh

Running time   1H55′

RPCA N° 118 169

Language  French/Cambodian

Synopsis

The mother, doned out by the administration after investing all her savings in a barren concession because flooded by the big tides of the Pacific and her two children Joseph, age 20 and Suzanne, age 16, live with difficulty, in the middle of this concession, ceaselessly threatened to be deprived of it by the administration of the land registry. What to make ? The energy and the hope are the reason for living of the mother who calculates, organizes, with a sort of accurate, cunning and lucid madness, so much she is afraid of the definitive departure – that she knows inevitable – of her children.   Anger  love, sensuality, resignation, laughs, death  are the heart of the film.

Fiche technique

A feature film by   Rithy Panh

Screenplay by   Michel Fessler and Rithy Panh

Adapted from    Marguerite Duras « Barrage contre le Pacifique »  (Editions Gallimard)

Cast

The mother   –   Isabelle Huppert

Joseph   -  Gaspard Ulliel

Suzanne   -  Astrid Berges

Mr Jo   -  Randal Douc

Crew

Production manager    -  Pierre Wallon

Director of Photography     –   Pierre Milon

Art Director    –   Yan Arlaud

1st Asst. Director    -  Pascal Guérin

Costume designer     –   Edith Vespérini

Editor      –   Marie-Christine Rougerie

Music  -  Marc Marder

Coproduction  CDP, STUDIO 37, FRANCE 2 CINÉMA, SCOPE PICTURES

with the participation CANAL +, CINÉCINEMA et de FRANCE 2

Centre National de la Cinématographie and BOPHANA Production

in association with  LA BANQUE POSTALE IMAGE, FILMS DISTRIBUTION, SOFICINEMA 4

and the support of  TAX SHELTER du Gouvernement fédéral belge and programme MEDIA de l’Union Européenne

Festivals

Festival de Toronto (Canada)

Festival de Rome (Italie)

Festival International de Mar del Plata (Argentine)

Festival International de Cinéma Contemporain de la ville de Mexico (Mexique)

Hong Kong Festival

Institut Français de Vienne (Autriche)

Istanbul International Meeting of Cinema & History Films Festival (Turquie)

Institut Français de Budapest (Hongrie)

Festival du Film Francophone d’Athènes (Grèce)