The sketch film, a genre that is not often explored in contemporary French cinema (although we could cite a couple of recent examples, such as Je suis partout and The Players [+leggi anche:
trailer
scheda film]), will see a new prototype hitting screens in the first half of 2019, in the guise of Smiley, shooting for which kicked off on 4 June.

Five directors have been roped in to direct the five different segments: Tristan Aurouet (who rose to fame with The Secret Adventures of Gustav Klopp), Thomas Bidegain (who took part in the 2015 Directors’ Fortnight with Cowboys [+leggi anche:
recensione
trailer
scheda film]), Marc Fitoussi (Copacabana [+leggi anche:
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trailer
scheda film], Pauline détective [+leggi anche:
trailer
scheda film]), Cyril Gelblat (Les murs porteurs [+leggi anche:
trailer
scheda film], Dad in Training [+leggi anche:
trailer
scheda film]) and Vianney Lebasque (Les Petits Princes [+leggi anche:
trailer
scheda film] and Les Beaux Esprits [+leggi anche:
trailer
scheda film], which will be screened at Locarno as the opening film of the Piazza Grande).

The cast includes Finnegan Oldfield (nominated for the César Award for Most Promising Actor in 2016 for Cowboys and Reinventing Marvin [+leggi anche:
recensione
trailer
scheda film], also popular in Nocturama [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Bertrand Bonello
scheda film] and Bang Gang (A Modern Love Story) [+leggi anche:
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trailer
intervista: Eva Husson
scheda film]), Max Boublil (Let the Girls Play [+leggi anche:
trailer
scheda film], The New Kid [+leggi anche:
recensione
trailer
intervista: Rudi Rosenberg
scheda film]), Elsa Zylberstein (César Award for Best Supporting Actress in 2009 for I’ve Loved You So Long [+leggi anche:
trailer
scheda film]), Manu Payet (currently gracing screens in Budapest [+leggi anche:
trailer
scheda film]), Idir Chender (Carbon [+leggi anche:
trailer
scheda film], Paul Sanchez Is Back! [+leggi anche:
recensione
trailer
scheda film]), seasoned thesp Sam Karmann (seen recently in Back in Business [+leggi anche:
trailer
scheda film] and C’est la vie! [+leggi anche:
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trailer
scheda film]), Marc Fraize (on the cinema listings in Keep an Eye Out [+leggi anche:
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trailer
scheda film]), famous comedian Blanche Gardin, Anne Benoît (Step by Step [+leggi anche:
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trailer
scheda film]), Maxence Tual (Apnée [+leggi anche:
trailer
scheda film]), Esteban (Just to Be Sure [+leggi anche:
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trailer
scheda film]), Alma Jodorowsky (The Starry Sky Above Me [+leggi anche:
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trailer
scheda film]), Sébastien Chassagne ((Girl)Friend [+leggi anche:
trailer
scheda film]), Julia Piaton (Serial (Bad) Weddings [+leggi anche:
trailer
scheda film]), Thomas de Pourquery (Struggle for Life [+leggi anche:
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trailer
scheda film]), Haroun, Mariama Gueye (The Climb [+leggi anche:
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scheda film]) and Fanny Sidney (the series Call My Agent!).

Five screenwriters have been partnered up with the five directors. They are, respectively, Giulio Callegari, Noé Débré (nominated for the César Award for Best Original Screenplay in 2016 for Dheepan [+leggi anche:
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trailer
Q&A: Jacques Audiard
scheda film]), Hélène Lombard, Julien Sibony (Secrets of State [+leggi anche:
trailer
scheda film]) and Bertrand Soulier. The story hinges on the idea that in a world where digital technology has invaded every aspect of our lives, some of us end up simply giving in. Whether you’re an addict or a technophobe, at home with the family or at school, at work or in a romantic relationship, Smiley sketches out the hilarious and brutal destinies of Homo Digitalis on the verge of a nervous breakdown… 

Produced by Julien Sibony and Adrien Desanges for Mandoline Films and by Chez Georges Productions, Smiley is being co-produced by France 2 Cinéma. The movie, which has also been pre-purchased by Canal+ and Ciné+, will be distributed in France by Apollo Films.