What makes Jean-Paul Salomé’s “paranoid” thriller particularly engrossing is the way it tackles multiple themes - the nature of women in the workplace, the environment, political manipulation, union power - while never losing sight of the nail-biting suspense along the way.
Sustained by a bravura performance from Isabelle Huppert in a total change of register from her last comedic outing with the same director Mama Weed, the new collaboration never puts a frame out of place. It is based on a true story, first tackled in a book by the journalist Caroline Michel-Aguirre.
With new blonde chignon hair style and spectacles that almost become a character in their own right, Huppert plays Irish woman Maureen Kearney, who has lived in France since she arrived in her twenties on a teaching assignment. She’s now the head union representative of a multinational nuclear conglomerate who has no hesitation in denouncing top secret deals in.
Sustained by a bravura performance from Isabelle Huppert in a total change of register from her last comedic outing with the same director Mama Weed, the new collaboration never puts a frame out of place. It is based on a true story, first tackled in a book by the journalist Caroline Michel-Aguirre.
With new blonde chignon hair style and spectacles that almost become a character in their own right, Huppert plays Irish woman Maureen Kearney, who has lived in France since she arrived in her twenties on a teaching assignment. She’s now the head union representative of a multinational nuclear conglomerate who has no hesitation in denouncing top secret deals in.
- 5/11/2023
- by Richard Mowe
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
Modern Films has shared an exclusive look at the trailer for the political thriller ‘La Syndicaliste.’
Based on the true story of Maureen Kearney, a trade union organiser in the French nuclear industry who became both a victim and suspect in a shocking scandal. Starring Isabelle Huppert in an electrifying performance as Kearney.
Maureen Kearney (Isabelle Huppert) was the head union representative of a French multinational nuclear powerhouse. She became a whistleblower, denouncing top-secret deals that shook the French nuclear sector. Alone against the world, she fought government ministers and industry leaders tooth and nail to bring the scandal to light and to defend more than 50,000 jobs. Her life was turned upside down when she was
violently assaulted in her own home. The investigation was carried out under pressure: the subject was sensitive. Suddenly, new elements created doubt in the minds of the investigators, and at first a victim, Maureen became a suspect.
Based on the true story of Maureen Kearney, a trade union organiser in the French nuclear industry who became both a victim and suspect in a shocking scandal. Starring Isabelle Huppert in an electrifying performance as Kearney.
Maureen Kearney (Isabelle Huppert) was the head union representative of a French multinational nuclear powerhouse. She became a whistleblower, denouncing top-secret deals that shook the French nuclear sector. Alone against the world, she fought government ministers and industry leaders tooth and nail to bring the scandal to light and to defend more than 50,000 jobs. Her life was turned upside down when she was
violently assaulted in her own home. The investigation was carried out under pressure: the subject was sensitive. Suddenly, new elements created doubt in the minds of the investigators, and at first a victim, Maureen became a suspect.
- 5/11/2023
- by Zehra Phelan
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Isabelle Huppert as Maureen Kearney: “We wanted to represent her physically as close as possible - hence the blonde chignon hair style, the jewellery, the bright red lipstick and her glasses.” Photo: UniFrance
“Bonjour - let’s go,” says France’s reigning art house queen Isabelle Huppert with a brisk flourish as we gather around to talk about one of the most incredible and intriguing roles in a career where an interviewer is spoilt for choice.
With her famed meticulous eye for detail, she plays a trade union leader in a French nuclear engineering company who became involved in a Kafka-esque scenario in which truth emerges stranger than any fiction.
Huppert has never met the subject of her portrayal of Maureen Kearney in The Sitting Duck (La Syndicaliste). She’s an Irish woman who has lived in France since she arrived as teacher in her twenties and married a Frenchman.
“Bonjour - let’s go,” says France’s reigning art house queen Isabelle Huppert with a brisk flourish as we gather around to talk about one of the most incredible and intriguing roles in a career where an interviewer is spoilt for choice.
With her famed meticulous eye for detail, she plays a trade union leader in a French nuclear engineering company who became involved in a Kafka-esque scenario in which truth emerges stranger than any fiction.
Huppert has never met the subject of her portrayal of Maureen Kearney in The Sitting Duck (La Syndicaliste). She’s an Irish woman who has lived in France since she arrived as teacher in her twenties and married a Frenchman.
- 2/22/2023
- by Richard Mowe
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
Kino Lorber has bought U.S. rights to Jean-Paul Salomé’s true life thriller “The Sitting Duck,” starring Isabelle Huppert as the French union organizer and whistleblower Maureen Kearney.
Represented in international markets by The Bureau Sales, “The Sitting Duck” world premiered at Venice where it won the Premio Fondazione Fai Persona Lavoro Ambiente Prize. The film will open theatrically in France in March, and Kino Lorber is planning a U.S. theatrical release later this year, followed by a digital and home video release on all major platforms.
“The Sitting Duck” has now been sold around the world. The Bureau Sales has closed deals for Canada (Axia Films Inc.), UK (Modern Films), Germany/Austria (Weltkino Filmverleih Gmbh), Italy (I Wonder Pictures), France (Le Pacte), Spain (Wanda Vision S.A.), Benelux (September Film), Switzerland (Filmcoopi Zurich Ag), Greece (Cinobo), Portugal, Bulgaria (Beta Film Ltd.), Hungary (Ads Service Ltd.), Romania (Transilvania Film), Israel (Forum Film Ltd.
Represented in international markets by The Bureau Sales, “The Sitting Duck” world premiered at Venice where it won the Premio Fondazione Fai Persona Lavoro Ambiente Prize. The film will open theatrically in France in March, and Kino Lorber is planning a U.S. theatrical release later this year, followed by a digital and home video release on all major platforms.
“The Sitting Duck” has now been sold around the world. The Bureau Sales has closed deals for Canada (Axia Films Inc.), UK (Modern Films), Germany/Austria (Weltkino Filmverleih Gmbh), Italy (I Wonder Pictures), France (Le Pacte), Spain (Wanda Vision S.A.), Benelux (September Film), Switzerland (Filmcoopi Zurich Ag), Greece (Cinobo), Portugal, Bulgaria (Beta Film Ltd.), Hungary (Ads Service Ltd.), Romania (Transilvania Film), Israel (Forum Film Ltd.
- 2/15/2023
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
The Bureau Sales has scored a raft of deals on “The Sitting Duck,” Jean-Paul Salomé’s thriller based on a true story starring Isabelle Huppert (“Elle”). The movie world premiered at the Venice Film Festival in the Horizons section.
Adapted from Caroline Michel-Aguirre’s book “La Syndicaliste,” “The Sitting Duck” tells the true story of Maureen Kearney (Huppert), the head union representative of a French multinational nuclear powerhouse who becomes a whistleblower, denouncing top-secret deals that shook the French nuclear sector. One day, Kearney is found in her home, tied to a chair, the letter “A” carved into her abdomen, and a knife handle inserted into her vagina.
Traumatized, she has no memory of the assault. However, after an investigation, the police accused her of staging the attack herself.
The Bureau Sales, which is spearheaded by Clementine Hugot, has sold the film to the U.K. (Modern Films), Latin America (Cineplex), Japan (Only Hearts Co.
Adapted from Caroline Michel-Aguirre’s book “La Syndicaliste,” “The Sitting Duck” tells the true story of Maureen Kearney (Huppert), the head union representative of a French multinational nuclear powerhouse who becomes a whistleblower, denouncing top-secret deals that shook the French nuclear sector. One day, Kearney is found in her home, tied to a chair, the letter “A” carved into her abdomen, and a knife handle inserted into her vagina.
Traumatized, she has no memory of the assault. However, after an investigation, the police accused her of staging the attack herself.
The Bureau Sales, which is spearheaded by Clementine Hugot, has sold the film to the U.K. (Modern Films), Latin America (Cineplex), Japan (Only Hearts Co.
- 11/1/2022
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
After taking a break from his filmmaking career to preside over the French film promotion org Unifrance, Jean-Paul Salomé has made a big comeback with a pair of films with Oscar-nominated French actor Isabelle Huppert. The latest one, “The Sitting Duck,” is world premiering at Venice in the Horizons section.
Adapted from Caroline Michel-Aguirre’s book “La Syndicaliste,” “The Sitting Duck” tells the true story of Maureen Kearney, the head union representative of a French multinational nuclear powerhouse who becomes a whistleblower, denouncing top-secret deals that shook the French nuclear sector. One day, Kearney is found in her home, tied to a chair, the letter “A” carved into her abdomen, and a knife handle inserted into her vagina. Traumatized, she has no memory of the assault. However, after an investigation, the police accused her of staging the attack herself.
Penned by Salomé and Fadette Drouard, the film has already been...
Adapted from Caroline Michel-Aguirre’s book “La Syndicaliste,” “The Sitting Duck” tells the true story of Maureen Kearney, the head union representative of a French multinational nuclear powerhouse who becomes a whistleblower, denouncing top-secret deals that shook the French nuclear sector. One day, Kearney is found in her home, tied to a chair, the letter “A” carved into her abdomen, and a knife handle inserted into her vagina. Traumatized, she has no memory of the assault. However, after an investigation, the police accused her of staging the attack herself.
Penned by Salomé and Fadette Drouard, the film has already been...
- 9/3/2022
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Maureen Kearney’s story is unbelievable. It is a story of unbelief, in fact — of denial, cover-ups, corruption and injustice directed at a small woman who was just doing her job. She’s played with an electric stillness by the great Isabelle Huppert in Jean-Paul Salome’s Venice Film Festival Horizons title The Sitting Duck (La Syndicaliste). There are still plenty of people who openly doubt her story, including people on her own side of politics. Perhaps it would be easier all round if it weren’t true.
Kearney was a union officer working within the partly French government-owned energy company Areva, which included a significant nuclear reactor business with projects all over the world. Kearney was no Karen Silkwood; she posed no threat to the concept of nuclear power. She maintains she was targeted when...
Kearney was a union officer working within the partly French government-owned energy company Areva, which included a significant nuclear reactor business with projects all over the world. Kearney was no Karen Silkwood; she posed no threat to the concept of nuclear power. She maintains she was targeted when...
- 9/2/2022
- by Stephanie Bunbury
- Deadline Film + TV
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