The Infidel laughs into the UK, Locarno prize winner Nothing Personal opens in Germany

France

The SND release of Allen Coulter’s romantic drama Remember Me went up against Clash Of The Titans on Wednesday (April 7) as the second highest-profile release of the week. The Robert Pattinson vehicle also stars Lost’s Emilie de Ravin, Chris Cooper and Pierce Brosnan. In the film, Pattinson plays a young New Yorker who rebels against his family and the rest of society when he unexpectedly falls in love with the daughter of a policeman.

Up against Clash Of The Titans and Remember Me, Israeli Cannes hit Ajami had a respectable showing. Released by Ad Vitam and directed by Scandar Copti and Yaron Shani, the film is an ensemble piece with intertwining stories set in Jaffa. Shakir Kabaha, Ibrahim Frege, and Fouad Habash star.

Nicolas Boukhrief’s police thriller Gardiens De L’Ordre was released by Gaumont on Wednesday on 244 screens. The film stars Cecile de France, Fred Testot and Julien Boisselier. The story follows a pair of cops who are accused of wrongdoing in the shooting of a young man who has killed one of their colleagues. The duo set out to prove their innocence while also tracking down a mysterious drug responsible for the young man’s aggression.

UK

Drew Barrymore’s directorial debut Whip It opens in the UK from Wednesday April 7, released nationwide through Lionsgate UK. Barrymore also stars in the drama which sees an outsider (played by Ellen Page) find solace through taking part in a roller derby league. The cast also boasts the talents of Juliette Lewis, Kristen Wiig and Jimmy Fallon.

Revolver Entertainment is giving Josh Appignanesi’s identity crisis comedy The Infidel a release in key UK cities from April 9. Written by comedian David Baddiel, the film follows Mahmud Nasir (played by Omid Djalili), an East End Muslim who discovers that he was born Jewish. Richard Schiff and Matt Lucas also star.

Italian drama, I Am Love, receives a limited release through Metrodome Distribution, also from April 9. Tilda Swinton stars in Luca Guadagnino’s tragic love story, set in Milan at the turn of the millennium.

Germany

The documentary Neukölln Unlimited – which has animated flashbacks in a style similar to Waltz With Bashir – is being released by GMfilms in six German towns, with a premiere in Berlin’s Volksbühne Theatre on Thursday (April 8). First shown at this year’s Panorama in the Berlinale, Dietmar Ratsch and Agostino Imondi’s film centres on the lives of three Lebanese teenagers growing up in Berlin and continuing their battle to fight deportation.

Urszula Antoniak’s mesmerizing drama Nothing Personal, starring Stephen Rea and Lotte Verbeek, had its world premiere at last year’s Locarno International Film Festival where it won six awards, including the Silver Leopard for Best Actress and the FIPRESCI Prize. MFA is releasing the Dutch-Irish co-production in 27 towns across Germany.

Neue Visionen has Rafi Pitts’ Berlinale competition entry The Hunter opening on 33 screens, including five cinemas in Berlin. Pitts has been in Germany to accompany a series of previews and was on hand for a Q&A after the German premiere on Tuesday evening at Berlin’s Babylon cinema. The Hunter is handled internationally by The Match Factory.

Spain

Small local outfit Baditri will release Oliver Hirschbiegel’s Irish thriller Five Minutes Of Heaven. The drama tells the story of a young Ulster Volunteer Force member named Alistair Little who kills the catholic Jimmy Griffin, and then 25 years later (now played by Liam Neeson) is forced to confront Jimmy´s brother Joe (James Nesbitt) on TV.

Another small local distributor Karma Films will be releasing Lu Chuan’s harrowing drama City Of Life And Death on 44 prints. Winner of the Golden Shell at San Sebastian last year, the film chronicles the Japanese soldiers’ massacre of the Chinese in Nanking.

Dunia Ayaso and Felix Sabroso’s local drama La Isla Interior will be distributed in Spain through Alta Films. The film revolves around three siblings, Martin, Gracia and Coral who live completely separate lives but who are brought together by the death of their father. Alberto San Juan picked up the best actor award at the Valladolid film festival last year for his portrayal of Martin.