Quebec director Ken Scott will direct the very first French film produced by Amazon Prime.
My mother, God and Sylvie Vartan, a co-production between Gaumont, Amazon and the Quebec house Christal Films, arrives following the decree signed in July 2021 which transposes into French law the European directive relating to audiovisual media services. Basically, this forces the Amazon Prime and other Netflix of this world to devote between 20% and 25% of their turnover recorded in France to the production of French cinematographic and audiovisual works.
The film, which stars Leïla Bekhti and Jonathan Cohen, is a big screen adaptation of the book by Roland Perez. The scenario, based on true events, tells the story of Roland, born with a disability, but who was able to realize his dreams with the unwavering support of his mother Esther, a strong woman who had a weakness for the legendary French singer Sylvie Vartan.
The feature film’s cast is completed by Naïm Naji, Milo Machado Graner, Lionel Dray, Joséphine Japy, Jeanne Balibar and Anne Le Ny. Sylvie Vartan also makes a short appearance on screen.
“It’s a unique opportunity to be able to work with Ken Scott on the adaptation of Roland Perez’s poignant novel. His talent for telling stories that are both funny and moving is undeniable, said Sidonie Dumas, general director of Gaumont, in a press release, specifying that the film was “a touching story about family and difference”.
Under French regulations, My Mother, God and Sylvie Vartan will be released in theaters in France 17 months before being broadcast online on the Amazon Prime platform. We currently do not know the exact release date of the film, both for France and Quebec.
