The French have not known for being realistic about the asking price for
their films and UNDERGROUND  is no exception. The original asking price was
very high, though it certainly has come down. The financing or political
controversy per se has little to do with the film not yet being picked up,
except in the generic sense that any political film is perceived to be
uncommercial. UNDERGOUND did not screen at the New York FILM Festival, but
at a special off calander screening at Lincoln Center last Febuary. I was
there and I thought it was a remarkable film, however it is not very
commercial. A Cannes Grand prize means very little at the US box office.
The big companies have passed on UNDERGROUND and though several small ones
have been interested it has not been picked up. There was a fairly accurate
account of the situation in the VILLAGE VOICE about
3 weeks ago. It is not that nobody in the US will ever distribute the film
(as is the case with many other great  foreign films) but that it is a
fairly uncommericial and difficult film. It may take a while longer for any
deal to be made and if and when one is, see it.
 
Jessica Rosner
Kino International
 
Kino International Corporation
333 W. 39th St. Suite 503
New York, NY 10018
(212)629-6880
fax: (212)714-0871
 
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