Kino Lorber Buys Arnaud Desplechin’s French Romantic Melodrama ‘Two Pianos’ for North America (EXCLUSIVE)

Kino Lorber has acquired North American rights to Arnaud Desplechin’s stirring melodrama “Two Pianos,” starring François Civil (“Beating Hearts”), Nadia Tereszkiewicz (“The Crime is Mine”) and Charlotte Rampling.

“Two Pianos” world premiered at Toronto and will make its U.S. premiere at the Rendez-Vous with French Cinema on March 5, with Desplechin in attendance. Kino Lorber will give it a theatrical release this spring, followed by a digital, educational, and home video roll-out.

Civil stars as Mathias Vogler, who returns to France after after years of self-imposed exile and reconnects with his former mentor, Eléna (Rampling) who has invited him to perform a series of piano concerts with her at the Auditorium de Lyon. “Once a gifted concert pianist and Eléna’s star pupil, Mathias has not performed publicly in years, squandering his childhood promise and returning to Lyon only at her request. But soon after his arrival, a chance encounter with a child who looks just like him throws Mathias into turmoil, threatening to drag him down, and leads him back to Claude (Nadia Tereszkiewicz): his first love,” the synopsis reads.

“I am deeply grateful to Kino Lorber for bringing ‘Two Pianos’ to American audiences,” said Desplechin, a revered French auteur who’s presented most of his films in competition at Cannes (including his previous film “Brother and Sister”) and frequently works with some of the country’s most celebrated talent. .

“I’ve been dreaming for so many years of filming an impossible love story. Here I am! ‘Two Pianos’ is an intimate story of regrets, music, and homecoming. Sure, life can be tough! And we can cope with that. But music is our best solace,” Desplechin said, before adding that “The United States has always been a place where cinema is passionately embraced, and I am very moved to share this film with the U.S. audience.” 

The deal for “Two Pianos” was negotiated by Kino Lorber VP of acquisitions Karoliina Dwyer and Eva Diederix of Goodfellas.

“We are thrilled to partner with the great director Arnaud Depleschin to bring Two Pianos to American audiences,” said Dwyer. “Fueled by the music of Chopin, Bartok, Bruch, and a swelling score by Grégoire Hetzel, ‘Two Pianos’ is a sensual, impressively directed romantic drama set in the world of classical music, with striking performances by François Civil, Nadia Tereszkiewicz, and Charlotte Rampling and brought to life by acclaimed cinematographer Paul Guilhaume.”

“’Two Pianos’ is a beautifully crafted and deeply moving film, and we’re thrilled that Kino Lorber will bring Arnaud Desplechin’s work to U.S. audiences,” added Diederix. 

“Two Pianos” was produced by Pascal Caucheteux of Why Not Productions, and was co-produced by Arte France Cinéma, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Cinéma, and Alaz Film.