"Factotum" Dropped From Picturehouse Slate

Just a month before its U.S. premiere at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival, Bent Hamer's "Factotum" has lost its theatrical distribution deal with Picturehouse. A Picturehouse rep told indieWIRE that the film is no longer a company release, explaining, "Unfortunatley we weren't able to complete the deal due to delivery issues." When asked for further clarification, the rep would not specify the issues, explaining that an unresolvable legal matter prevented the deal. The spokesperson reiterated that the company picked up "Factotum" in Cannes this year but was simply not able to conclude the deal for the movie. It had been set for an early '06 release.

A pair of independent companies are understood to be in talks to acquire the movie. Jim Stark, a producer and co-writer of the film, did not respond to an email seeking more information on the situation. "Factotum" is based on a novel by Charles Bukowski, and is described by Sundance as "the story of a man living on the edge; of a writer willing to risk everything to make sure his life is poetry." The film's cast includes Matt Dillon, Lily Taylor, Didier Fiamond, Fisher Stevens and Marisa Tomei. [Eugene Hernandez]