The U.K. and Ireland rights to Angelina Jolie‘s Couture have been acquired by Signature Entertainment from HanWay Films.
The Hollywood Reporter has also released an exclusive still from the film, written and directed by Alice Winocour (Proxima), ahead of its U.K. premiere at the Glasgow Film Festival on Feb. 26.
Set during the frenzy of Paris Fashion Week, three women’s lives intersect in Paris: Maxine (Jolie), an American filmmaker who discovers she has life-changing medical diagnosis and is drawn into an unexpected connection with a familiar collaborator (Louis Garrel); Ada (Anyier Anei), a fresh face in modelling, escaping a predetermined future back home in South Sudan; and Angèle (Ella Rumpf), a makeup artist working in the shadows of the catwalks.
“As their paths cross,” a plot synopsis reads, “the film reveals the quiet resilience beneath the surface of public performance and honors the unspoken solidarity shared among these women across professions, cultures, and continents.”
Couture had its world premiere in Toronto last year before it headed to San Sebastian for its European debut. Winocour told THR at the Spanish film fest: “It’s not a film about fashion. I wanted to show solidarity between women.”
It is produced by Charles Gillibert (The Chronology of Water) of CG Cinéma alongside Zhang Xin (History of Sound) and William Horberg (Quiet American, The Talented Mr Ripley) of Closer Media, as well as Jolie. Bob Xu is serving as an executive producer. The feature is co-produced with France 3 Cinéma and has received funding from La Région Île-de-France, Canal+, Ciné+ OCS, France Télévisions and Chanel. It had its world premiere at Toronto International Film Festival last year.
The deal was negotiated between Signature’s chief commercial officer Elizabeth Williams and HanWay Films head of sales Nicole Mackey.
“We are delighted to be bringing Couture to U.K. and Irish audiences and to be partnering with HanWay once again,” said Williams. “We were instantly struck by Alice Winocour’s distinctive and commanding vision and the exceptional performances throughout, particularly anchored by Angelina Jolie’s powerful portrayal at the film’s centre.”
