Capping its active Cannes buying, Sundance Selects has acquired U.S. rights to Hirokazu Kore-eda’s Cannes Jury Prize winner “Like Father, Like Son” from Wild Bunch.
The Japanese drama stars Fukuyama Masaharu, Ono Machiko, Maki Yoko and Lily Franky, and was produced by Kameyama Chihiro, Hatanaka Tatsuro and Tom Yoda.
The film, which made its world premiere in competition at the festival, explores two families discovering that their 6-year-old sons were switched at birth.
Maggie Lee gave the film a strong review for Variety: “Reshaping a classic babies-switched-at-birth plot into a thoughtful exploration of the meaning of parenthood, Japanese helmer Hirokazu Kore-eda’s “Like Father, Like Son” is a characteristically low-key but supple treatment of familial bonds, expectations and responsibilities that reverberates with heartrending impact. The age-old nature-vs.-nurture debate emerges naturally from a comparison between two very different families but it’s the story’s intent focus on one father’s intimacy issues and redemptive transformation that makes the film so sublimely moving.”
Sundance Selects has made four other acquisitions at Cannes, including U.S. rights to Abdellatif Kechiche’s Palme D’Or winner “Blue Is the Warmest Color,” North American rights to Clio Barnard’s “The Selfish Giant,” U.S. rights to Francois Ozon’s “Young & Beautiful” and U.S. rights to Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne’s “Two Days, One Night,” starring Marion Cotillard, which is currently in pre-production.
The deal for the film was negotiated by Arianna Bocco for Sundance Selects/IFC Films with Carole Baraton at Wild Bunch on behalf of the filmmakers.
