Top 150 Most Anticipated Foreign Films of 2019: #22. Mektoub, My Love: Canto Due – Abdellatif Kechiche

Mektoub, My Love: Canto Due

We’re still waiting on the appearance of Abdellatif Kechiche’s Mektoub, My Love: Canto Due, the follow-up to his 2017 first installment, Mektoub, Canto Uno (trailer), which received wildly mixed responses following its premiere in competition at the Venice Film Festival (the film opened in France theatrically but has yet to receive any type of North American premiere). Drama and contention have plagued Kechiche ever since winning the Palme d’Or at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival for Blue is the Warmest Color (which the director infamously put up for sale to finance post-production on his latest saga). Returning cast members include Hafsia Herzi, Shain Boumedine, Ophelia Bau, Salim Kechiouche, Alexia Chardard, and Lou Lattiau, while Michel Merkt remains listed as associate producer.

Gist: Co-written by Ghalia Lacroix, it’s the end of summer vacation for Amin, who must contend with the romantic foibles between his womanizing cousin and the heartbroken Charlotte. Amin’s childhood friend is also going through considerable personal turmoil. At the same time, his cousin introduced Amin to an American producer who expresses interest in making Amin’s screenplay come to life if his wife Jessica can play the lead. However, how Jessica is treated may compromise Amin’s chance at realizing his dreams.

Release Date/Prediction: Since the film has been in post-production for well over a year and was not programmed at Cannes or Venice, Berlin 2019 seems the most logical berth for Kechiche’s coming-of-age saga.