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Django

Competition 2017
© Roger Arpajou
France in 1943 during the German occupation. Every night, guitarist and composer Django Reinhardt delights Parisian audiences with his witty, life-affirming ‘gypsy swing’ music. Whilst many other Romany people are finding themselves the target of racist persecution and being murdered in concentration camps, Django believes himself to be safe due to his popularity – until agents of the Nazi propaganda machine demand that he goes on tour to Germany in order to counteract the influence of ‘negro music’ from the USA. Django Reinhardt refuses. One of his Parisian admirers helps him, his pregnant wife and his mother to hide out in a village close to the Swiss border; here he meets members of his large extended family who are also on the run. But when he tries to cross Lake Geneva into Switzerland with his wife and his mother, the Nazis are hot on his heels. In his directorial debut, Etienne Comar portrays an unconventional artist and free spirit whose life is as improvised as his music. Faced with the question of whether or not to allow his art to be misused for politcal purposes, he has to make a decision of vital significance.
by Etienne Comar
with Reda Kateb, Cécile de France, Beata Palya, Bim Bam Merstein, Gabriel Mirété, Vincent Frade, Johnny Montreuil, Raphaël Dever, Patrick Mille, Alex Brandemuhl, Ulrich Brandhoff France 2017 French 117’ Colour

With

  • Reda Kateb (Django Reinhardt)
  • Cécile de France (Louise)
  • Beata Palya (Naguine)
  • Bim Bam Merstein (Negros)
  • Gabriel Mirété (La Plume)
  • Vincent Frade (Tam Tam)
  • Johnny Montreuil (Joseph Reinhardt)
  • Raphaël Dever (Vola)
  • Patrick Mille (Charlie Delaunay)
  • Alex Brandemuhl (Hans Biber)
  • Ulrich Brandhoff (Hammerstein)

Crew

Director Etienne Comar
Screenplay Etienne Comar, Alexis Salatko
Cinematography Christophe Beaucarne
Editing Monica Coleman
Music Django Reinhardt performed by Rosenberg Trio, Warren Ellis
Sound Cyril Moisson, Vincent Guillon, Stéphane Thiebaut
Production Design Olivier Radot
Costumes Pascaline Chavanne
Make-Up Nelly Robin
Assistant Director Luc Bricault
Casting Stéphane Batut
Production Manager Philippe Hagège
Producers Olivier Delbosc, Marc Missonnier
Executive Producer Christine de Jekel
Co-Production Arches Films, Curiosa Films, Moana Films, Pathé, France 2 Cinéma, Auvergne-Rhônes-Alpes Cinéma

World Sales

Pathé

http://www.patheinternational.com http://www.patheinternational.com

Pathé International

Produced by

Fidélité Films

Photos

Press Conference

Red Carpet

Etienne Comar

© Thaddé Comar

After graduating from the Parisian film school La Fémis, he began working at Erato Films as a production manager on films including Boris Godunov by Andrzej Zulawski and Van Gogh by Maurice Pialat. He then produced 15 feature films with Playtime and Vendôme Production before, in 2009, moving to Arches Films to work as a screenwriter and producer on titles such as Des hommes et des dieux (Of Gods and Men) by Xavier Beauvois and Mon roi (My King) by Maïwenn. Django is his first feature film as a director.

Filmography (as director)

2017 Django

Bio- & filmography as of Berlinale 2017