NEWS: DECEMBER 2010

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Yesterday saw the premiere of  BRUC - EL DESAFIO in Madrid with Vincent in attendance along with director Daniel Benmayor and other cast members. It's not the first time the Swiss actor took up the sword but this time he played off his Spanish origins - don't forget his name is Perez! He admits he was seduced into taking the role because of the film's classic 'westerns" feel and the theme of persecution playing out against the magical setting of Montserrat. You can view the trailer at the official web site. I would never have guessed Vincent's wardrobe included a blue paid flannel shirt - closest he's ever looked to a redneck!

Shot over eight weeks between June 15 and August 6, 2009, the film had a long pre-production. Months were spent researching the most minute details. In addition, production designer Antxon Gomez invested much time in finding the right locations and visualizing what the film would look like. Director Benmayor is one of the most prestigious advertising filmmakers so this background has served him well.

The film recounts the events of the famous legend of the Battle of the Bruce in 1808, which was fought between the Catalans and Napoleon's army. A young man was responsible for causing an avalanche of drum beat that decided the fate of the French army. This is precisely the starting point of history: Napoleon, disappointed in defeat, decided to send a group of his henchmen to eliminate the young Bruc.

For more photos, see the movie page.

The film has opened with 300 copies and has been recorded in Spanish, French and Catalan with the intention of attracting more viewers to the cinema. It has already been introduced in the UK and will be screened shortly in France. Benmayor jokes that "The English are delighted because the French as losing." In this regard, he notes that, despite using fiction as a tool, the Napoleonic events were real. Benmajor explains that because they were filming in places that were very inaccessible in Catalonia, where the landscape was suitable for recreating battles between the Spanish and the French, the biggest challenge was the complicated logistics and personal sacrifice for the whole team to access these sites. Catering for the production was actually more picnic style. Shooting was hard and physically demanding. Much of the equipment had to be carried on either their backs or donkeys.

Vincent spent today in Barcelona promoting the film with interviews and a photo call with director Daniel Benmayor and co-star Astrid Berges Frisbey at the Cine Verdi. Here's a link to an interview with Intereconomia. You'll note that he answers questions quite fluently in Spanish.

 

On December 5th Vincent attended the Gucci Masters, long associated with the sporting glamour of the equestrian world. It is one of the world's most  prestigious indoor equestrian competitions. We already know that stepdaughter Roxane Depardieu has grown up with a love of horses, but now we discover that Vincent and Karine's eleven-year-old daughter, Iman, has also joined the ranks. As a prelude to the Gucci Grand Prix, spectators were treated to a Shetland Pony race. Iman was among the ten children taking part in this special race.  The event was held at the Paris Nord Villepinte.

This year the 10th Marrakech International Film Festival, held from December 3-11, paid tribute to France. The festival offered a journey through time: thirty years of French cinema through a retrospective of 75 films. Here are some photos of Vincent and Karine taken on December 3rd and 4th. More photos can be found in the MIFF gallery.