‘Magnetic Beats’ director sets ‘De Grace’ for Mediawan, Arte

Vincent Maël Cardona, whose 2021 picture Magnetic Beats won an award at Cannes’ Directors Fortnight and a Cesar Award for Best First Feature, is featured in ‘De Grâce,’ a sprawling crime thriller set in the northern French port city of Le Direct Havre.

The series is co-produced and commissioned by Arte France (“En thérapie”, “Real Humans”) and by Pierre-Emmanuel Fleurantin (“Two of Us”, “The Velvet Queen”) at Ego Productions, a Mediawan company. Savage Films from Belgium is co-producing. Mediawan Rights represents the show in international markets.

Scheduled to be shot on location in Le Havre on August 8th, De Grâce features a strong ensemble cast including Olivier Gourmet (The Minister), Margot Bancilhon (Five), Panayotis Pascot (Mon chien stupide), Pierre Lottin (“Notre-Dame on Fire”), Astrid Whettnall (“Baron Noir”), Philippe Rebbot. (“L’amour flou”) and French rapper Gringe.

Written by Maxime Crupaux (‘Cherif’) and Baptiste Fillon, ‘De Grâce’ tells the story of Pierre Leprieur (Gourmet), a native of Le Havre who has become a well-known political figure, ranking high in the local dockworker community is viewed . One night while celebrating his 60th birthday with close friends, his eldest son is arrested driving a car he borrowed from his brother with a kilogram of cocaine on board. After asking his daughter, a criminal lawyer, to take on the case, Pierre, convinced that he is the target of a conspiracy, sets out to find those responsible for what happened to his sons. However, his quest leads him down a downward path that uncovers dark family secrets.

“This is a very ambitious project, directed by one of the most talented filmmakers of his generation, and it will be both a crime thriller and a family drama with some noir elements,” said Fleurantin, whose production includes the award-winning drama series Zone Blanche” and Filippo Meneghetti’s “Two of Us”, which won the 2021 Cesar Award for Best First Feature, and “The Velvet Queen”, which won this year’s Cesar Award for Best Documentary. Fleurantin is also co-founder of the Les Arcs European Film Festival.