Eye For Film >> News >> Michel Hazanavicius to adapt The Search

Michel Hazanavicius to adapt The Search

Exclusive! New project for the director of The Artist.

by Richard Mowe

Bérénice Béjo and Michel Hazanavicius on their Scottish odyssey
Bérénice Béjo and Michel Hazanavicius on their Scottish odyssey Photo: Valentina Bonizzi
The director of The Artist Michel Hazanavicius has revealed in Paris that his next project will again feature his wife Bérénice Béjo (both of whom came to Scotland with his James Bond spoof OSS 117). It will be a loose adaptation of Fred Zinnemann’s film The Search, which was made in 1948 and featured Montgomery Clift. He has transferred the conflict from the Second World War to the Chechen War with the Russians. Béjo plays a resistance fighter and a major Hollywood name will anchor the projection which is due to start filming in the summer.

Hazanavicius, who was in attendance as a special guest at the Unifrance Rendez-vous with French Cinema in Paris, declared himself happy with a project that would allow him to move on from The Artist without any expectations or comparisons.

Hazanavicius and Béjo were lured from France to Scotland five years ago partly thanks to a friendship struck up between Béjo and Scot Phoebe Grigor, daughter of the film-maker Murray Grigor. Hazanavicius had apparently dreamed of making a silent film for 20 years, but had to wait until he had made a name for himself with the OSS 117 spoof and its sequel before anyone gave him a chance.

Share this with others on...

Movies out this week include:

Exhibition On Screen: James McNeill Whistler La Femme Infidele Premature Raiders Of The Lost Ark Unidentified Murder
News

The changing light Yoon Dan-bi on music, sound, Moving On and The World Before

Flipping the script Ghasideh Golmakani on using absurdist comedy to tackle misogyny in Head To Head

Spotlight on forgotten history Miwa Nishikawa on telling the story of post-war street orphans in Children Untold

A compulsion for cinema Thomas Bond on the secret of being a producer, the value of flaws, and Imposters

Streaming spotlight: off with their heads! Hold onto your noggin as we reflect on characters who have lost theirs entirely

More news and features

News
Festival Image

We're bringing you all the latest news and reviews from the Toronto International Film Festival.



We're looking forward to Fantastic Fest, San Sebastian and Beyond Fest.



We've recently brought you coverage of the Venice Film Festival, Frightfest, the Edinburgh International Film Festival, the Locarno Film Festival, the Fantasia International Film Festival, the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, the Muslim International Film Festival and Docs Ireland.



Read our full for more.


Visit our festivals section.

Interact
Competition Picture

Don't forget that you can follow us on YouTube for trailers of festival films and more. You can also find us on Mastodon and Bluesky.


It's a busy time for festivals and here's the latest:


Venice announces winners


LFF Full programme announced


Venice Giornate degli Autori awards announce


Festival Scope Venice Sala Web offers chance to stream shorts for free


San Sebastian Naomi Watts to receive Donostia Award