23/08/2022 - Olivier Gourmet, Panayotis Pascot and Margot Bancilhon head the cast of this Ego Productions series, directed for Arte France by the filmmaker first revealed with Magnetic Beats and sold by Mediawan

Actors Olivier Gourmet (© Dominique Dardenne) and Panayotis Pascot and actress Margot Bancilhon (© Georges Biard)

Since 8 August, Brittany-born filmmaker Vincent Maël Cardona, revealed at the 2021 Directors’ Fortnight and nominated in 2022 for the César and Lumière awards with Magnetic Beats [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Vincent Maël Cardona
film profile], has been filming the series De Grâce. Heading the cast of this 6x52mn series for Arte France are Belgian actor Olivier Gourmet (appreciated recently in Eugénie Grandet [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] and On the Edge [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Giordano Gederlini
film profile]), Panayotis Pascot (My Stupid Dog [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile]) and Margot Bancilhon (Ami-ami).

Also in the cast are Pierre Lottin (well-received recently in Cannes in Harkis [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Philippe Faucon
film profile] and The Night of the 12 [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Dominik Moll
film profile]), Belgian actress Astrid Whettnall (winner of the 2017 Magritte award for Best Actress for Road to Istanbul [+see also:
trailer
film profile] and noticed for her performance in the series Baron noir), Philippe Rebbot (seen recently in Not My Type [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile]), rapper Gringe (School's Out [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Sébastien Marnier
film profile], Little Tickles [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile]), Alyzée Costes (in September in the series Les papillons noirs [+see also:
trailer
interview: Olivier Wotling
series profile]), as well as filmmakers Samuel Theis (Party Girl [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Marie Amachoukeli, Claire B…
film profile]) and Xavier Beauvois (who has been acting regularly since his Most Promising Actor César win in 1993).

Written by Maxime Crupaux and Baptiste Fillon, the script of De Grâce centres on Pierre Leprieur, born in Le Havre, with fuel and salt in his blood. An activist through and through, he has become a respected figure among the dock workers for his political engagement and his involvement with the unions. But on the evening of his 60th birthday, as his loved ones are gathered to celebrate, everything falls apart. His youngest son, Simon, is arrested behind the wheel of a car that his brother Jean, a car salesman, has lent him for the evening. A kilo of cocaine is found inside, and Simon and Jean end up in custody. Pierre asks his daughter, Emma, a criminal lawyer, to defend her brothers, while he tries to find out who might be responsible for what he is certain to be a conspiracy against him. But the truth is dangerous and brutal. Behind a far reaching trafficking ring and a city haunted by its port, the Leprieur family will have to face its own secrets and its own curse. Only one thing could still save them… Grace.

Produced by Pierre-Emmanuel Fleurantin and Vincent Mouluquet for Ego Productions (of the Mediawan group, which handles international sales), De Grâce is co-produced by Arte France and by Belgium’s Savage Film. Filming is taking place in Le Havre until 29 September, before continuing in Ile-de-France and ending in Belgium on 15 November.

(Translated from French)