Davies developing adaptation of Richard McCann memoir about a US family in post-WWII Washington; Leopardrama also closes distribution deal on Swan Lake 3D.

Writer-director Terence Davies is developing a feature adaptation of Richard McCann’s novel Mothers of Sorrow with UK film and TV production outfit Leopardrama. The EU’s Media Fund is providing development support.

Mother of Sorrows, a series of interwoven stories about family life in the post-World War II suburbs of Washington D.C, is being driven by Joey Attawia, Jez Swimer and David Chikwe at Leopardrama - a subsidiary of UK and US production group Argonon - which last year produced thriller The Holding and were also behind BAFTA-nominated drama An Englishman in New York starring John Hurt.

Davies said: “This is an important story because it touches the humanity in all of us. I love the delicacy of the book and its gentle odyssey from post-World War II optimism for the American utopia to a deeper understanding of both maternal and filial love and an acceptance of mortality by surrendering to the light.”

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The critically acclaimed novel is narrated by a man looking back at his childhood, which was heavily influenced by the sudden death of his father and a beautiful but complicated mother.

In other Leopoardrama news, the company has closed an international theatrical distribution deal on its filmed version of Mathew Bourne’s Swan Lake 3D (initially screened on Sky Arts) with More2Screen which has committed to release the film in up to 600 cinemas.

Leopardrama is the drama division of Argonon Group, run by CEO James Burstall. Remedy Productions is also part of the Group.

Davies’ long-gestating Swedish-UK period drama Sunset Song is due to shoot in winter 2012.

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