Lord Have Mercy! Von Trier’s “Antichrist” Finds U.S. Home

Lars Von Trier's "Antichrist." Image courtesy of Cannes Film Festival.

IFC Films goes for two Wednesday with its second Cannes acquisition announcement of the day. Lars Von Trier’s much ballyhooed and debated “Antichrist” will come to the U.S. after all.  Von Trier, whose fiery press conference, which managed to both polarize and excite the Cannes Film Festival, set off a debate among many insiders about whether the film was releasable in America. IFC said the cut will be the same version screened in Cannes.

Arianna Bocco, Vice President of Acquisitions and Co-Production for IFC Films negotiated the deal with Susan Wendt of TrustNordisk. The deal marks the third time IFC Films has worked with Lars Von Trier and TrustNordisk.  The company previously distributed “Manderlay” and “The Boss of it All.”

Starring Willem Dafoe and Charlotte Gainsbourg, the Dogme 95 director’s latest thriller follows the story of a grieving couple who retreat to their cabin in the woods, “Eden,” hoping to repair their broken hearts and troubled marriage. But nature takes its course and things evolve badly.

“Since it premiered at Cannes on Monday, we haven’t been able to stop talking or thinking about ‘Antichrist,” said IFC Entertainment president Joanthan Sehring in a statement. “It is a towering work of cinema by one its greatest directors.  We are incredibly excited to bring this film to America and expect it to have a major impact on audiences not only in America but worldwide.”

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posted on May 20, 2009 |Share Comments 1 pr_gmr says on May 20, 2009 at 1:46pm Go, IFC! Yowzers! I look forward to seeing this at an arthouse theater near me in the fall! 2 frederikboll says on May 20, 2009 at 3:47pm Best news all week!!! Can’t wait!