When the members of The Playlist like to get our foreign film art house mojo working, there are few filmmakers as consistently rewarding as Claire Denis. As we outlined in our retrospective a couple years back, her body of work is impressive, with a number of distinct, individual films that are unlike anything anyone else is doing. And moreover, she's directed some of our favorite films — arthouse or otherwise — of the past few years with 2008's "35 Shots Of Rum" and 2009's "White Material." But she's since gone very quiet, but we're happy that a new film is on the horizon.
Cineuorpa reports that next month, Denis will start production on "Les salauds" ("The Bastards"). Vincent Lindon (who starred in the director's 2003 effort "Friday Night") and Chiara Mastrioanni ("A Christmas Tale," "Beloved") will star in the picture, but at the moment there are no plot details. But if there is one theme that has traveled throughout the films of the French born, African raised director, it's that of race, and in some form or another, we think this new effort will likely touch upon that theme (even if indirectly).
Denis hasn't been entirely absent the last few years. She did direct a short, "To The Devil," that made some festival rounds in 2011, but was apparently not very well received. And speaking of festivals, as a helmer who's been to Venice with five films (she's been to Cannes once, for her debut "Chocolat"), we're willing to bet producers Wild Bunch will be aiming to premiere the celebrated director's next effort on the red carpet in Italy next year. But wherever it lands, it will be one we'll be keeping an eye out for and eagerly awaiting.
