Let’s catch up a little bit with French filmmaker Claire Denis since we’re slightly behind on the most recent updates. For one, her latest film is no longer titled “Fire” in the U.S. and has reverted to the international title, “Both Sides Of The Blade.” The film premiered at the Berlin Film Festival in February under the ‘Blade’ title (read our review here), but it recently made its U.S. premiere at Film At Lincoln Center’s Rendez-Vous with French Cinema festival under the film title “Fire.”
Playlist contributor Charles Bramesco spoke to Denis during that Rendez-Vous press circuit (the full interview to closer to release), and the outspoken French filmmaker said she was not happy with the U.S. title. “I tried today to speak with the distribution company because I think ‘Fire’ is not completely fitting for the film,” she said in March. “‘Both Sides of the Blade,’ it’s sharp. There’s passion, but it could be divided in a painful way. It’s cutting!”
Well, evidently, that U.S. distributor IFC Films finally listened because “Both Sides Of The Blade,” which stars Juliette Binoche and Vincent Lindon (“Titane“), is officially now the final title. It’s going to be a big year for Denis, she has “Both Sides Of The Blade” premiering in the U.S. on July 8, and before that, she’ll have her next film, “The Stars at Noon,” premiering at the Cannes Film Festival in May—her first film in Cannes competition in 34 years.
“The Stars At Noon” features Margaret Qualley and Joe Alwyn (“The Favourite“) and centers on an English businessman and an American journalist who strike up a romance during the volatile political unrest of Nicaragua in the early 1980s.
Here’s the official synopsis:
Trish is a struggling reporter in Nicaragua, hoping to score a scoop she can sell to an American magazine that wants nothing to do with her. Her passport and press card have been confiscated. At night, Trish hangs around the bar of a pre-war luxury hotel, amongst established reporters who snub her. For them, she’s a hooker and a lush. One night, she spots a young man, Daniel, clearly a newcomer to the tropics. She sleeps with him for 50 bucks, but in no time, passion and sexual obsession blind them to the real dangers surrounding them. Daniel has lied. He’s working for Big Oil, not an NGO. The stakes are high, and their lives are in peril.
“Both Sides Of The Blade” is a love triangle story about a woman caught between two men, her long-time partner and his best friend, her former lover, co-starring Grégoire Colin, Hana Magimel, and Mati Diop. Here’s the official synopsis:
Winter in Paris. BOTH SIDES OF THE BLADE tells the tale of a passionate love triangle. Jean (Vincent Lindon) and Sara (Juliette Binoche) have been living together for ten years. When they first met, Sara was living with François (Grégoire Colin), Jean’s best friend and an admirer from back when he played pro rugby. Jean and Sara love each other. One day, Sara sees François in the street. He does not notice her, but she is overcome by the sensation that her life could suddenly change. François gets back in touch with Jean. For the first time in years. He suggests they start working together again. From here on, things spiral out of control.
Wild Bunch is releasing “Both Sides Of The Blade” in France, and the company has recently released a new teaser and relatively new images. Additionally, there’s also a clip from the film floating around out there from Berlin. With Denis about to premiere a new movie in May in Cannes, and release another one only July 8, now’s a pretty perfect time to check out everything that’s available on the films so far.
