FilmRise has picked up U.S. distribution rights to Lolo, a rom-com from French actress-writer-director Julie Delpy (2 Days in New York).
Lolo premiered at the 2015 Venice Film Festival, and also screened at the Toronto International Film Festival this past year. The story centers on the romance between Violette (Delpy), a 40-something fashion editor and IT specialist Jean-René (Dany Boon) while on a spa retreat in scenic Biarritz. Jean-René’s challenge is to win the trust and respect of Violette’s 19 year old son, Lolo (Vincent Lacoste), who wants to remain his mother’s favorite and is determined to sabotage their budding romance. Karin Viard plays Delpy’s foul-mouthed best friend. Aside from starring in the film, Delpy directed from her screenplay which she co-wrote with Eugénie Grandval.
FilmRise’s CEO, Danny Fisher, said in a statement, “With its mainstream appeal, we are thrilled to be bringing Lolo to the U.S. We are confident that American audiences will fall in love with Julie Delpy’s hilarious crowd-pleaser, just as we have.”
For her part, Delpy said, “I am beyond ecstatic that Lolo, a film that means so much to me, will be released theatrically in the U.S. As a filmmaker and actress, I have put my heart and soul into this film; I am so happy that I can share Lolo with American audiences.”
Delpy, known for her talky art house films, was Oscar-nominated twice for Adapted Screenplay for 2004’s Before Sunset and 2013’s Before Midnight, along with her co-writers Ethan Hawke (himself a twice-Oscar-nominated actor as well as a co-star in both films) and Oscar-nominated director-writer-producer Richard Linklater (Boyhood), who helmed both films.
Lolo is slated for U.S. theatrical release on March 11th.