Thomas Cailley on Turning Reality Into Fantasy With ‘The Animal Kingdom,’ Cannes’ Un Certain Regard Opener

variety.com:

Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent A bold departure from France’s cinema tradition of social realism, Thomas Cailley’s widely ambitious sophomore outing “The Animal Kingdom” is equally a creature-filled dystopia, an emotionally charged father-and-son drama and a coming-of-age tale.

The character-driven film world premiered to warm reviews at the Cannes Film Festival where it bowed the Un Certain Regard section. “The Animal Kingdom” is represented in international market by Studiocanal and was produced by Pierre Guyard at Nord Ouest Films, and co-produced by Artemis. “The Animal Kingdom” takes place in an undetermined future in France which has been swept by a genetic disease causing people to transform into creatures that are being hunted down and killed or institutionalized by authorities.

Kircher, the breakout star of Christophe Honoré’s “Winter Boy,” plays 16-year-old Emile whose mother was institutionalized after showing first signs of a genetic mutation.

He lives with his father Francois (Romain Duris) who is struggling to overcome grief. Cailley has made a critically acclaimed feature debut “Love at First Fight” which world premiered at Cannes’ Directors Fortnight where won four awards in 2014, and went on top to win the Cesar Award for best first film, as well as best female and male newcomers for Adele Haenel and Kevin Azais who play a young couple who enlist together Army survival program.