The Innocent

Palace Films is delighted to be releasing hit French comedy THE INNOCENT in Australian cinemas 13 April in Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Hobart & Perth, with Brisbane (20 Apr) and Adelaide (27 Apr) to follow.

Director: Louis Garrel

Cast: Louis Garrel, Noémie Merlant, Anouk Grinberg, Roschdy Zem

Country of origin: France

Rating: M 

Run-time: 99 mins

Directed by and starring the multi-talented Louis Garrel (A Faithful Man), THE INNOCENT was selected as the special Gala Screening to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the Cannes Film Festival, and went on to become a box office hit upon its local release in France, and one of the best attended films of this year's Alliance Française French Film Festival in Australia.

The film joyfully pays homage to the great crime capers of the French New Wave, and is partly inspired by events from Garrel's own life. In it, he plays widowed marine biologist Abel who learns that his impulsive mum Sylvie (Anouk Grinberg) is once again re-marrying - this time to an inmate she met whilst teaching theatre in prison - which makes him feel more than uncomfortable. Doubting that convicted burglar Michel (Roschdy Zem) is capable of turning over a new leaf, Abel's protective streak kicks in, and so with the help of his best friend Clémence (a sensational Noémie Merlant, Tár), he begins tailing his new stepfather's movements. Their amateur sleuthing is quickly uncovered by Michel and triggers an unlikely and bold business proposition for them both.

This witty and beautifully constructed film is a delirious mix of comedy, romance, suspense and action, with several twists too good to spoil. It's a quintessentially French comedy which aims to please, and does so effortlessly.

www.theinnocent.com.au