In 2006, Guillaume Canet directed his second feature film, Tell No One, an adaptation of Harlan Coben’s novel, which notably won him a César for Best Director. This action thriller stars François Clouseau as a husband who embarks on a race against time to find his wife who disappeared eight years ago.
Almost twenty years after the release of this iconic feature film, Guillaume Canet is preparing to return to action cinema, but this time in front of the camera. The latter will actually headline the thriller Ad Vitam, a new Netflix product directed by Rodolphe Lauga (La Source).
In this film, which he co-wrote and co-produced, Guillaume Canet lends his features to Frank Lazarev, a former member of GIGN. A small group connected to his past comes to his house one day and kidnaps his pregnant wife. Frank has only a few hours left to comply with the group’s demands or his wife will be executed.
The rest of the cast includes Stéphane Caillard (Marseilles), Nassim Lies (Sous la Seine), Zita Hanrot (Plan Cœur) and Alexis Manent (Athena), performers already seen in previous Netflix productions.
A tribute to Jean-Paul Belmondo?
The origin of this project dates back to 2016, when Guillaume Canet was shooting the film Jadotville. The latter practiced physical training with former GIGN members, including Thibaut Levesque. The story of this man whose career ended after a shoulder injury inspired the actor/director to write the story of Ad Vitam.
In order to perform most of his stunts himself, Guillaume Canet underwent three months of intensive training. Filming these scenes reminded him of a discussion with Jean-Paul Belmondo: “I talked to him about my passion and when I was on rooftops or paramotoring I was obviously thinking about him.” He confides in the film’s press kit.
The feature film Ad Vitam with Guillaume Canet can be seen from January 10 exclusively on Netflix.
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Source: Allocine
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
