France’s Caractères and Chile’s Planta Have Boarded San Sebastian Co-Production Forum-bound ‘Hard Boiled School’ (EXCLUSIVE)

As a seasoned cinephile with a soft spot for gritty dramas that delve into the complexities of human nature, I can hardly contain my excitement for “Hard Boiled School”! This multi-country production is a testament to the power of collaboration and resilience in the face of adversity. The fact that it’s based on the life of real-life Argentine legend Pedro Palomar, who’s no stranger to the silver screen himself, adds an extra layer of intrigue.


In collaboration, France’s Caractères Productions and Chile’s Planta Prods. have joined forces with Argentine director Hernán Rosselli for the film titled “Hard Boiled School.” This multi-national production brings together lead producer Un Puma from Argentina, along with co-producers from various countries such as Austria (Nabis Filmgroup), Uruguay (Tarkiofilm), Brazil (Multiverso Produções), and Portugal (Oublaum Filmes).

The film “Hard Boiled School” (“La escuela pesada”) has been chosen to take part in the San Sebastian Film Festival’s Europe-Latin America Co-Production Forum. This film emphasizes the growing trend of collaboration among international producers, as they grapple with various challenges such as escalating production costs, uncertain state funding, and shrinking budgets in their home countries.

At present, the production is in the funding phase. The story unfolds around Pedro Palomar, the Argentinean legend who was recently released from prison after serving a decade for armed robbery. An unexpected twist awaits him upon his release – he discovers he is now responsible for looking after the daughter of an old accomplice.

According to its director-writer Rosselli, “Much like my previous film ‘Mauro’ and the recent release ‘Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed’ shown at Cannes’ Directors Fortnight, ‘Hard Boiled School’ blends professional actors with individuals whose real identities and their characters are intertwined. This tension forms a significant part of the movie’s tone. The juxtaposition of professional and amateur performers keeps the film from slipping into cliches and stereotypes, while still maintaining the dramatic impact of the scenes.”

“A few actors are connected to Pedro Palomar’s personal circle, living in the same Lomas de Zamora neighborhood where our story unfolds. They are not only neighbors but also friends of his. Among them, Palomar plays himself, alongside Sabino Soria, Delfina Groizard, Chiquito Riquelme, and Leandro Menendez.”

70 years old now, Palomar has appeared in two films since his release from Argentine prisons in 2008, following a 35-year sentence. He’s been seen in Ezequiel Radusky and Rosselli’s “Planta permanente” and Jerónimo Quevedo’s “Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed,” also known as “Un Puma.” According to Quevedo, who produced the latter film, “Hard Boiled School” is inspired by Palomar but its narrative is entirely fictional.

“Rosselli mentioned that ‘Hard-Boiled School’ aims to be a reference point by reusing old film clips to portray the past. This is achieved through a layered depiction that includes the meticulous staging of a bank heist, elements of a traditional buddy movie, the story of Pedro Palomar, and a documentary about its own production process.”

The project is financially supported by the Argentine Film Institute (INCAA), the Hubert Bals Fund, and Mecenazgo – a patronage law from Buenos Aires City.

Located in Buenos Aires, Un Puma was established by Victoria Marotta and Quevedo, a dynamic duo known for creating critically successful feature films and shorts. Their latest creations include “About Thirties” by Martín Shanly, which debuted at Berlinale, as well as “The Human Surge 3” by Eduardo Williams, premiered at Locarno, and “The Practice” by Martín Rejtman, showcased at the San Sebastián Film Festival.

“Hard Boiled School” is slated to start principal photography in July 2025.

The 72nd San Sebastian Film Festival runs Sept. 20-28.

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2024-08-28 15:49