Music Box Films has snagged the U.S. rights to “The Midwife,” a French dramedy starring Catherine Frot ( “Marguerite”) and Catherine Deneuve (“Dancer in the Dark”). Variety broke the news.
Planned for release this summer, the film centers on a gifted, meticulous midwife (Frot) and “the free-spirited, extravagant, and frivolous mistress (Deneuve) of her deceased father who comes back into the life of Frot’s character after three decades.” It’s very rare — and refreshing — to hear about a project toplined by two actresses over 60.
“The Midwife” made its world premiere at the Berlinale this February. The film is written and directed by Martin Provost (“Seraphine”).
“Provost has made a name for himself with powerful portraits of women, and [has] given Catherine Deneuve one of the best roles of her career,” said William Schopf, president of Music Box.
Frot and Deneuve are two of France’s most celebrated actresses. Combined, they’ve received a whopping 24 César Award nominations, France’s equivalent to the Academy Awards. They’ve each won two. Deneuve earned an Oscar nomination in 1993 for “Indochine.” Last year, she was honored with the Lumière Award at the Lumière Grand Lyon Film Festival in France.