Outplay Films‘ “Turtles,” directed by David Lambert, has landed U.S. distribution with Dark Star Pictures. The film, which stars Dave Johns, Olivier Gourmet and Brigitte Poupart, follows a long-married couple who are headed for divorce.
The official synopsis reads: “Since Thom and Henri met 35 years ago, their love for each other has never faltered. The seemingly perfect life they had built in Brussels started to go awry when Henri retired from being a police officer. Now, Henri’s days seem to stretch endlessly, each one as bland as the next while his feelings for Thom are fading fast. They drift away from each other a little more each day, to the point that their house has become a battleground. Thom’s love for Henri remains strong though and he is not ready to give up. He will do anything to save his relationship and rekindle their love, even if that means asking Henri for a divorce.”
“We are pleased to extend our partnership with Dark Star Pictures, our trusted North American distributor,” a statement from Outplay Films reads. “With their impressive lineup and shared commitment to cinematic quality, we look forward to a continued relationship built on mutual trust and success.”
Another Outplay project, “Rivière,” sold to North American distributor Indie Can for the U.S. and Canada, as well as to HBO Europe. It was then sold in 17 territories.
“Riviére,” the debut feature of Hugues Hariche, is an earnest take on adolescence and the way youth negotiates trauma. It follows 17-year-old Manon (Flavie Delangle) as she abruptly returns to her hometown in an attempt to reconcile with her estranged father. Near-orphaned by circumstance, she blends effortlessly into the scenery, taking up with local teens at the neighborhood ice rink. They maneuver their traumas with nuance while hockey and figure-skating act as vehicles that portray the script’s tensions.
“We are delighted to witness our captivating title, which debuted at Locarno and journeyed through Cinemania and Alice Nella Città, now embraced by North American audiences under the visionary distribution of Pride Pictures/Indican,” Outplay said in a statement. “Our collaboration with HBO continues to flourish, as Rivière finds its way to European viewers, marking another milestone in our shared commitment to diverse storytelling.”
