With all the talk surrounding Harvey Weinstein’s decision to release “Bully” unrated, you’d be forgiven for forgetting about the other films The Weinstein Company have on the horizon. To remind you, the company has released their trailer for “The Intouchables,” France’s phenomenally successful buddy comedy.
The film’s already racked up a staggering $281 million at the worldwide box office (over $166 million in France alone). The feel-good preview gives a good indication of why the film’s done so well overseas.
Directed by Olivier Nakache and Eric Toledano, “The Intouchables” tels the fact-based story of the unlikely friendship between a handicapped white millionaire (“Tell No One” star François Cluzet) and his rowdy Senegalese caretaker (Omar Sy).
Like many Weinstein’s titles, “The Intouchables” recently drummed up controversy when ultra right-wing French politician Jean Marie Le Pen condemned the film for shining a positive light on France’s immigrant community. Weinstein denounced Le Pen’s actions, stating in a release: “It’s not a surprise to hear such an intolerant statement from the man who founded and was president of the extreme-right, xenophobic, racist National Front party. Le Pen made a repulsive statement, representing a bigoted world view. And right now, Jean-Marie’s daughter, Marine Le Pen, is running for president of France as the leader of the National Front party — and she is fourth in the polls with almost 16% of the population intending to vote for her. That’s frightening to me, and I think it’s important to speak up and speak out against Le Pen and his ideas. That’s why I’m proud to bring ‘The Intouchables’ to American audiences.”
TWC opens “The Intouchables” in limited release May 25.
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