MADRID — Paris-based Bodega Films has acquired French rights to ‘70s thriller “Captain Koblic,” which re-teams “Chinese Take-Out” director Sebastian Borensztein with Argentina’s Ricardo Darin (“The Secret in Their Eyes,” “Wild Tales”), the most bankable of Latin American actors who has never made movies in Hollywood.
Bodega Films will release “Captain Koblic” in theaters across France in early 2017, said Guido Rud at Buenos Aires’ FilmSharks Intl, the movie’s sales agent.
Disney has picked up Latin American rights to the title. Pablo Bossi (“Francis: Pray For Me”), the producer of “Nine Queens,” one of Darin’s international breakthroughs, produces with Juan Pablo Buscarini, Jose Ibanez, Spain’s Atresmedia Cine and Viacom’s newly-bought Telefe, Argentina’s No. 1 broadcast network.
The deal roles off negotiations between Bodega and “Koblic” sales agent FilmSharks Intl. at this month’s Ventana Sur market.
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Set during Argentina’s Dirty War, Darin plays a navy captain who, having flown one mission, refuses to take part in any more death flights where Junta detainees were pushed out of planes, still alive, to drown in the sea.
Koblic escapes to a hamlet on the coast, attempts to build a new life, falling for a local woman, But, introducing Western overtones to the film, the local police commissioner, played by Venice best actor winner Oscar Martinez (“The Distinguished Citizen”), begins to suspect his true identity – as government security agents close in.
World premiering at October’s Busan Festival, “Captain Koblic” has wracked up a roster of major territory deals including the U.S. with Somos Distribution, a deal which takes in broadcast on Somos TV and its VOD system. Japan (Only Hearts), Australia/New Zealand (Bonsai) and Spain (DeAPlaneta) have also closed, of cornerstone international markets.
“Captain Koblic” sold a respectable 350,000 tickets (about $1.8 million) in Argentina. Buoyed by its cast and political background which, as critics have noticed, turns Koblic’s backwoods’ village into an allegory for paranoia under a regime ready to obliterate any potential source of dissent, it is on track to sell widely abroad.
In further deals, Cinecolor Films clinched Colombia, Filmarti took Turkey , Paris Filmes Brazil, Palmera International picked up Central America and Seven Films rights to Greece.
“The film has all the perfect crossover elements to play internationally and Ricardo Darin assures an audience,” said Rud, adding that expected to lock the whole world by end of play at the 2017 Berlin Festival.
A boutique distributor, Bodega has scored some of its biggest box office hits with Latin America movies, such as Cannes Camera d’Or winner “Las Acacias” and, way back in 2003 just after it launched, Carlos Reygadas’ feature debut “Japon.”
