DK-Soda Films join Fiennes drama

Eve Gabereau and Edward Fletcher of UK distributor Soda Pictures and UK producer David P. Kelly have joined the production of Ralph Fiennes drama Two Women

As previously reported, the Russian and French-language drama, based on Ivan Turgenev’s play A Month in the Country, is due to shoot in Smolensk, Russia, this summer.

A Russian-French-UK co-production, Two Women is to be directed by Vera Glagoleva (One War), with Natalia Ivanova of Russian outfit Horosho Productions as lead producer and a UK partnership between producer David P. Kelly (The Last Station, Desert Flower) and Soda Pictures co-directors Eve Gabereau and Edward Fletcher, who have backed the film creatively and financially. Support also comes from the Russian Cinema Fund.

The 19th century story, about a tangle of love affairs at a country home, marks the first production collaboration between Kelly and independent distributor Soda - whose credits include Barbara, Norwegian Wood and Bullhead - under its new production banner Soda Films. Screen understands the partnership has a number of films in development.

The film’s cast will be predominantly Russian but Screen understands the production will cast a French actress in one of the female leads.

Agent Simon Beresford said on behalf of Fiennes: ‘‘Ralph Fiennes is delighted to be involved in this exciting project, playing the wonderful role of Rakitin and as a sign of his deep commitment is studying Russian for the role. He has always been a great admirer of Russian culture and looks forward to working there this summer.”

Fiennes previously starred in Russian adaptation Onegin.

Kelly was introduced to the project at the UK-Russian co-production roundtable held in London in November 2012.

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