Top 100 Most Anticipated Foreign Films of 2016: #99. Eugène Green’s Le fils de Joseph

Director: Eugène Green
Writer: Eugène Green

American born French director Eugène Green usually premieres his films at Locarno, though despite critical acclaim many fail to get considerable attention in the US (of note, his last film 2014’s La Sapienza, also starring Belgian Fabrizio Rongione, was distributed by Kino Lorber). His latest film, Le fils de Joseph (Joseph’s Son), is described by the director as having allusions to the Bible whilst meanwhile being a topical narrative wrapped up in elements of film noir. And it boasts an incredibly prolific cast. The story revolves around a young man (Ezenfis) who lives with his mother (Régnier). Having never known his father, he heads off to look for him. He finds a cynical and Machiavellian man (Amalric) who works as a publisher in Paris. After he attempts to kill him, he will then find filial love thanks to his uncle (Rongione).

Cast: Mathieu Amalric, Maria de Medeiros, Fabrizio Rongione, Natacha Regnier, Dominique Blanc, Jacques Bonnaffe, Victor Ezenfis.

Production Co./Producer(s): Coffee and Films’ Francine & Didier Jacob, Les Films du Fleuve’s Philippe Logie.

U.S. Distributor: TBD (domestic). Les Films du Losange (international).

Release Date: Despite its notable cast members, we’re thinking Green might still bow in Locarno. But we wouldn’t be surprised if this were to be programmed at a sidebar at Cannes.