Cannes’ Opening Film ‘The Electric Kiss’ Boarded by Playtime

"The Electric Kiss," a French film, is set to have its world premiere on the opening night of the Cannes Film Festival. It has been picked up for international sales by Playtime.

Directed by Pierre Salvadori, the movie is set in Paris in 1928 and follows Antoine Balestro (played by Pio Marmaï), a painter who is at the peak of his fame but can't create any new work after the death of his wife, Irène (played by Vimala Pons).

 This has left his gallery owner, Armand (played by Gilles Lellouche), very worried.

The film's story goes like this: One night, while drunk, Antoine tries to reach out to his late wife through a psychic.

 But he ends up talking to Suzanne (played by Anaïs Demoustier), a simple carnival worker. Suzanne is actually a skilled trickster, and with the help of Armand, who really wants Antoine to start painting again, she sets up fake séances. Slowly, Antoine finds inspiration again, but the fake story gets more complicated as Suzanne starts to fall in love with the man she's pretending to help.

The screenplay was written by Pierre Salvadori along with Benjamin Charbit and Benoît Graffin.

 The idea for the film came from Rebecca Zlotowski (known for "A Private Life") and Robin Campillo ("BPM"). It is produced by Les Films Pelléas, the same company that made two Cannes-winning films: Justine Triet's "Anatomy of a Fall" and Jafar Panahi's "It Was Just an Accident." The co-founders of the production company, Philippe Martin and David Thion, are the producers and associate producers of the film.

Other co-producers include Sandrine Dumas from Pio & Co in Paris, Jacques-Henri Bronckart and Tatjana Kozar from Versus Production in Belgium, and Pierre Salvadori through his Tovo Films.

 The film will also be released in France by Diaphana, right along with its world premiere on May 12.

Pierre Salvadori said, "Whether they come from here or elsewhere, films all have a universal purpose.

 This is why I'm so happy to present The Electric Kiss with films from all over the world at the Cannes Film Festival. I hope my characters, with their humanity and sometimes conflicting feelings, will speak to everyone and that people will find a part of themselves in this love story."

Sébastien Beffa, co-founder of Playtime, added, "Great romantic comedies are rare.

 When one actually delivers on all its promises, with a great director and strong production team, there's no hesitation."