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THE SEA WALL
A co-production CDP, STUDIO 37, FRANCE 2 CINEMA, SCOPE PICTURES with the participation of CANAL +, CINECINEMA and FRANCE 2, THE CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA CINEMATOGRAPHIE and BOPHANA PRODUCTION in association with LA BANQUE POSTALE IMAGE, FILMS DISTRIBUTION, SOFICINEMA 4 with the support of TAX SHELTER, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF BELGIUM and the MEDIA PROGRAMME OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
International Premiere:Special Presentation - Toronto Film Festival 2008
Starring:Isabelle Huppert
Gaspard Ulliel
Astrid Berges-Frisbey
Randal Douc
Writer/Director:Rithy Panh
Producers:Catherine Dussart
CDP
International Sales:Films Distribution
UK Distributor:Axiom Films
Country: France
Language: French
Genre: Drama
Year of Production: 2008
Format: 35mm
Running Time: 115 minutes
Certificate: 12A
Theatrical Release date: 20th November 2009

Widely praised following its world premiere as a Special Presentation at the Toronto International Film Festival, director Rithy Panh's (S-21, RICE PEOPLE) celebrated period epic set in the rich landscape of French colonial Indochine is a highly successful adaptation of Marguerite Duras' acclaimed and semi-autobiographical novel "Un Barrage Contre le Pacifique" ("The Sea Wall"), that features a leading performance by BAFTA Award Winner and recipient of the European Film Academy's 2009 Achievement in World Cinema, Isabelle Huppert.

Deceived into investing all of her savings in worthless, regularly flooded farmland, incapable of supporting crops and perilously close to the ocean, THE SEA WALL tells the compelling story of one mother's fight to protect her family - Joseph (Gaspard Ulliel, THE VINTER'S LUCK, HANNIBAL RISING, A VERY LONG ENGAGEMENT) and Suzanne (Astrid Berges-Frisbey) from destitution at the hands of a corrupt administration.

Battling both the colonial bureaucrats and nature itself, she enlists the help of the local villagers, putting into place an elaborate scheme: building a dam against the sea to secure the future of both her family and the local community.
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THE SEA WALL
**NOW AVAILABLE ON DVD**

"...glossy...robust and enjoyable storytelling"
Peter Bradshaw, THE GUARDIAN

"...a beautiful looking film..."
Jason Solomons, MAIL ON SUNDAY

"Isabelle Huppert shines..."
THE TIMES

"Lush and steamy...Worth watching just for Huppert's captivatingly complex performance..."
THE METRO

Widely praised following its world premiere as a Special Presentation at the Toronto International Film Festival, director Rithy Panh's (S-21, RICE PEOPLE) celebrated period epic set in the rich landscape of French colonial Indochine is a highly successful adaptation of Marguerite Duras' acclaimed and semi-autobiographical novel "Un Barrage Contre le Pacifique" ("The Sea Wall"), featuring a stunning leading performance by BAFTA Award Winner and recipient of the European Film Academy's 2009 Achievement in World Cinema, Isabelle Huppert.

Deceived into investing all of her savings in worthless, regularly flooded farmland, incapable of supporting crops and perilously close to the ocean, THE SEA WALL tells the compelling story of one mother's fight to protect her family - Joseph (Gaspard Ulliel, THE VINTER'S LUCK, HANNIBAL RISING, A VERY LONG ENGAGEMENT) and Suzanne (Astrid Berges-Frisbey) from destitution at the hands of a corrupt administration.

Battling both the colonial bureaucrats and nature itself, she enlists the help of the local villagers, putting into place an elaborate scheme: building a dam against the sea to secure the future of both her family and the local community.

Bonus features include Cinemoi interviews with director Rithy Panh and actress Isabelle Huppert, stills gallery and trailer.


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"...glossy...robust and enjoyable storytelling"
Peter Bradshaw, THE GUARDIAN

"...a beautiful looking film..."
Jason Solomons, MAIL ON SUNDAY

"Lush and steamy...Worth watching just for Huppert's captivatingly complex performance..."
THE METRO

"Isabelle Huppert shines..."
THE TIMES

"Rithy Panh...was the right director to adapt Marguerite Duras's first novel...his cast traverse the story with sensitivity..."
Derek Malcolm, LONDON EVENING STANDARD

"Decent performances and beautiful scenery make this re-imagining of Marguerite Duras' novel well worth a viewing."
EMPIRE

"Rithy Panh's film catches the simmering tensions of a country under the yoke..."
THE INDEPENDENT

"...good-looking melodrama...Huppert rivets."
TOTAL FILM

"...a stylish adaptation..."
THE LADY

"Attractively shot and impressively directed...The always excellent Isabelle Huppert gives an intriguingly complex performance...Ulliel is equally good and there's strong support from both Berges-Frisbey and Douc...The Sea Wall is worth seeing..."
VIEW LONDON

"Affectionate and sumptuously shot...Huppert is simply stunning..."
LITTLE WHITE LIES

"well-designed affair"
Philip French, THE OBSERVER

"Handsome..."
THE INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY

"...with all the handsome period detail of a Merchant-Ivory production..."
THE INFORMATION, THE INDEPENDENT

"...an unqualified success."
CURZON CINEMA MAGAZINE