Le Pacte acquires French rights to Spring Fever

Jean Labadie’s Le Pacte has acquired Lou Ye’s Cannes competition film Spring Fever for French distribution.

Wild Bunch is handling international sales following a bidding war among several suitors in Paris this week, according to the sales company’s Vincent Maraval.

Spring Fever’s selection for Cannes marks Ye’s return after a three year absence. His  2006 film Summer Palace caused a stir when it was screened despite the clamor made by Chinese censors. He was subsequently banned from filming in China but ended up making Spring Fever, an erotic tale set in 2007, under the radar.

Labadie told Screen that he jumped on the film immediately, “I’m thrilled. It’s really a beautiful film.”