Top 200 Most Anticipated Films for 2014: #86. Andre Techine’s L’homme que l’on aimait trop

L’homme que l’on aimait trop

Director: Andre Techine
Writers: Andre Techine, Cedric Anger, Jean-Charles Le Roux
Producer: Fidelite Films
U.S. Distributor: Right Available
Cast: Catherine Deneuve, Guillaume Canet, Adele Haenel

While we expect the future English title to be other than what should be a direct translation, the generally underrated yet quite prolific André Téchiné’s latest reunites him with muse (of many) Catherine Deneuve who is starring opposite an exciting supporting cast made up of actor/director Guillaume Canet and the ever alluring Adele Haenel (Water Lilies; House of Pleasure). Surprisingly a crowdsourced funded project, while Téchiné is perhaps still most renowned for his 1994 film, Wild Reeds, his filmography is consistently alluring and often features some of France’s best actresses in plum roles (Carole Bouquet stole the show in his last film, 2011’s Unforgiveable).

Gist: Inspired by a news item which still receives attention, the screenplay begins in Nice in 1976. Agnès Le Roux, the daughter of the owner of the Palais de la Méditerranée, falls in love with a successful lawyer, ten years older than her: Maurice Agnelet. He has other affairs, she is madly in love with him. With casino warfare as a backdrop, he puts her in touch with Fratoni, a dangerous man and a rival to her mother, who offers her 3 million francs to take control of the casino. Agnès accepts but feels very badly about her betrayal. Maurice distances himself from her. After a suicide attempt, the young woman disappears.

Release Date: Téchiné is a regular at Cannes (where he won Best Director in 1985 for Rendez-vous), and though he hasn’t played in the Main Competition since 2003, there’s a distinct possibility this could snag a slot.

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