Berlinal Film Festival to Open With Etienne Comar’s ‘Django’

World premiere will also participate in official competition

Django

The 67th Berlin International Film Festival will open with the world premiere of Etienne Comar’s jazz biopic “Django.”

Comar’s directorial debut will also participate in the Berlinale’s official competition. The French film follows Django Reinhardt, the famous guitarist and composer, and his flight from German-occupied Paris in 1943. Within moments, this superb guitarist was able to reach people’s hearts with his instrument, the official description reads. Yet his family was harassed and hounded by the Nazis.

“Django Reinhardt was one of the most brilliant pioneers of European jazz and the father of Gypsy Swing. ‘Django grippingly portrays one chapter in the musician’s eventful life and is a poignant tale of survival,”said Berlinale director Dieter Kosslick. “Constant danger, flight and the atrocities committed against his family could not make him stop playing.”

Reda Kateb plays Reinhardt; Cécile de France, Alex Brendemühl and Ulrich Brandhoff co-star in the film. Comar and Alexis Salatko wrote the screenplay. Reinhardt’s music was re-recorded for the film by the famous Dutch jazz band Rosenberg Trio.

The film is produced by Fidélité, Arches Films and Pathé. Pathé International will be handling international sales.

Berlinale kicks off with “Django” on February 9.

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