Oscar winner Marion Cotillard to topline “Mal de Pierres” period drama

PanARMENIAN.Net - Marion Cotillard is set to topline “Mal de Pierres,” a period romance drama directed by critically-acclaimed auteur Nicole Garcia and produced by Alain Attal’s Les Productions du Tresor, one of France’s top independent film companies, Variety said.

An adaptation of Milena Agus’ eponymous novel set after WWII, “Mal de Pierres” (“Mal di pietre”) spans 20 years, following the destiny of a passionate, free-spirited woman who is in a loveless marriage and falls for another man.

A bestseller, the book has been translated in more than 15 languages.

Cotillard will play the leading role. Garcia co-wrote the script with her regular co-scribe, Jacques Fieschi.

“It’s a passion project for both Nicole and us,” Attal told Variety.” It’s a very romantic and intense story about a woman whose quest for absolute love is the essence of life, her ‘raison d’etre.’” Attal added that Cotillard was taken by the script, the strong character it portrays and is highly committed to the project.

“Pierres” will mark Attal’s third collaboration with Cotillard, who starred in Guillaume Canet’s last two films: “Little White Lies” and “Blood Ties,” also lead-produced by Les Productions du Tresor.

For the last three years, Cotillard, who is repped by CAA and Laurent Gregoire’s Adequate, has been lining up meaty roles in European arthouse films such as Jacques Audiard’s “Rust and Bones,” the Dardennes brothers’ Cannes-competing “Two Days, One Night” and the upcoming “Macbeth,” opposite Michael Fassbender.

Attal has also worked with Garcia twice before. He produced two of her most successful films: “Charlie Says” which competed at Cannes, and “A View of Love,” a film which starred Jean Dujardin in one his first drama roles and grossed over 6.3 million Euros in France.

Garcia, who is represented by VMA, attended Cannes this year as president of the Camera d’Or jury. One of France’s best known female auteurs, has directed such well-received films as “The Favorite Son” and Cannes-competing “The Adversary.” She’s also actress who broke through in the 80′s with Philippe de Broca’s “Practice Makes Perfect” (“Le Cavaleur”) which earned her a Cesar award.