Vincent Cassel to star in Partisan

French actor Vincent Cassel is set to lead Partisan, Ariel Kleiman’s debut feature which will shoot in Australia in October.

Protagonist Pictures has come on board to handle international sales on the film, which was written by Kleiman and Sarah Cyngler. 

Cassel will play a charismatic and troubled man called Gregori, who has raised a communal family within the world of his lavish compound.  The story is told through the eyes of 11-year-old Alexander who starts to question Gregori’s deadly teachings.

Cassel’s international credits include Mesrine, for which he won the César for Best Actor, Irreversible, Read My Lips, The Crimson Rivers, Brotherhood Of The Wolf, L’Appartement and La Haine, as well as Black Swan, Eastern Promises, Ocean’s 12 and Ocean’s 13. His upcoming work includes Beauty and the Beast.

Warp Films Australia’s Anna McLeish and Sarah Shaw will produce Partisan, following the partnership on Snowtown and Shopping. 

Partisan has been financed by Screen Australia, Animal Kingdom, Film Victoria and DDP Studios with support from Fulcrum Media Finance. Animal Kingdom’s David Kaplan and Frederick W. Green will act as executive producers.

Madman Entertainment will distribute in Australia and New Zealand, and UTA is co-repping North America with Protagonist. 

Kleiman’s short films include Deeper Than Yesterday and Young Love.

Cassel is repped by Creative Artists Agency and Agence Adequat.