Focus World nabs Morgan Freeman, Diane Keaton dramedy “Ruth & Alex”

PanARMENIAN.Net - Focus World has plunked down roughly $1.5 million for domestic rights to Ruth & Alex, an adult-skewing dramedy starring Morgan Freeman and Diane Keaton that made its world premiere earlier this month at the Toronto Film Festival, The Hollywood Reporter said.

Like Radius-TWC, Focus World has a mandate from its parent company, Focus Features, to pursue alternative distribution models, such as day-and-date VOD releases.

Ruth & Alex, based on the book Heroic Measures by Jill Ciment and taking place over the course of a weekend, tells the story of a couple grappling with whether to sell their Brooklyn walk-up after 40 years, all the while having to contend with open-house guests, their pushy realtor niece (Cynthia Nixon) and the health of their beloved dog.

Richard Loncraine directed from an adapted script by Charlie Peters.

There was real-life drama surrounding the movie's premiere when the plane Freeman was piloting malfunctioned, forcing him to land several times before eventually arriving in Toronto.