‘November’ Director Cedric Jimenez on Weaving Thriller, Social Commentary and AI Themes in ‘Chien 51,’ a Paris-Set Dystopian Film; Studiocanal Launches Sales at EFM (EXCLUSIVE)

by

Following the release of two modern thrillers titled “The Stronghold” and “November,” renowned French director Cedric Jimenez is venturing into a new genre for his upcoming film, “Chien 51.” This movie will be a dystopian production, offering another perspective on police work and their psyches, but this time set in a future world dominated by artificial intelligence.

Title “Chien 51” reunites Jimenez with French producer Hugo Selignac under the banner of Chi-Fou-Mi (a Mediawan company) and distributor Studiocanal, and this film is an adaptation of Laurent Gaudé’s 2022 novel with the same title, which revolves around a futuristic thriller.

The film “Chien 51,” directed by Jimenez, represents his most daring project yet and carries a budget around €40 million. Filmed over 18 weeks, the production spanned locations in Paris, Marseille, and a studio where sets were constructed. Highly anticipated for release in 2025, “Chien 51” will showcase intricate visual effects, elegant set designs, and awe-inspiring scenes involving as many as 500 extras.

OR

The movie “Chien 51,” directed by Jimenez, is his most ambitious project so far, with an estimated budget of around €40 million. It was filmed on location in Paris, Marseille, and a studio where sets were built. One of the most awaited French films for 2025, “Chien 51” will feature advanced visual effects, stylish designs, and some breathtaking scenes involving up to 500 extras.

Just before the European Film Market commences, Studiocanal will present their new project to potential buyers. Jimenez expressed that his interest in adapting “Chien 51” into a feature film surfaced immediately upon reading the book due to its captivating blend of suspense, societal critique, and technological exploration.

Instead of placing the movie in a distant future, Jimenez imagined “Chien 51” in a world that intensifies current societal tendencies he observes, such as widening social gaps and limitations on personal liberties, along with artificial intelligence being utilized in public services.

Jimenez, one of the writers of “Chien 51” along with Olivier Demangel, shares that not all elements from the book could be translated to a movie. However, he emphasizes that they managed to preserve the sensory experiences, ambiance, characters, and themes as found in the novel.

The movie, slated for release in July, takes place in a somewhat near-future Paris that’s divided into three districts based on social standing, with barriers controlling travel between them. A powerful AI named Alma has transformed the law enforcement system, managing it and reconstructing crime scenes while estimating the likelihood of culpability, thereby shaping investigations. However, when Alma’s creator is brutally killed, Salia and Zem – two detectives hailing from different zones with contrasting personalities – are compelled to join forces in solving this intriguing case.

The film titled ‘Chien 51’ features two prominent French actors: Adèle Exarchopoulos, known for her role in ‘Heartbeats’, and Gilles Lellouche, recognized from ‘November’.

According to Jimenez, his approach begins with the current state of our society and technology, incorporating existing trends. This concept is similar to dystopia, which contrasts with utopia, meaning we create a society remarkably like our own, emphasizing its robust aspects, exaggerating them, and critiquing the same flaws. The filmmaker explains that he aimed to make the movie as authentic as possible, ensuring it resonates with contemporary society and captivates viewers.

According to Jimenez, the idea that Paris is divided into distinct zones isn’t entirely imaginative. Although the separations aren’t physical, people seldom intermingle, leading to multiple worlds coexisting within a single city. This observation also applies to Marseille, and it holds true for Paris as well.

Jimenez suggests that the police force depicted in the movie are aided by artificial intelligence, providing them with situations most likely to involve criminal activity, thus allowing people’s actions to unfold from their own free will.

The director’s recent two films feature police characters as their main focus. In “The Stronghold,” Lellouche played a cop operating in Marseille’s most dangerous district, with the story drawing inspiration from the 2012 scandal involving members of the anti-crime unit who were arrested and imprisoned. “November” stars Jean Dujardin as the head of an elite police unit tasked with identifying the perpetrators of the 2015 Paris attacks, a secretive group that operated under the radar. Both films were box office successes and made their debut at the Cannes Film Festival.

According to Jimenez, “Chien 51” contributes to a small trilogy. He finds the police intriguing because they are central to our community. This is why they generate much discussion and strong emotions.

He goes on saying that the topic is definitely intriguing, and from a filmmaking perspective, it really catches his attention as well.

To clarify, “Chien 51″‘s recent works differ significantly from his previous ones as they are purely fictional and not based on actual events.

He’s expressed a desire to focus on pure fictional stories for some time now. His recent projects, such as “La French,” inspired by a real-life judge’s brave fight against a drug ring in Marseille during the 1970’s (portrayed by Dujardin), as well as “The Stronghold” and “November,” have led him to this decision.

Working with entirely fabricated materials offers a sense of freedom and simultaneously opens up endless opportunities. However, alongside Olivier (Demangel), we enjoyed crafting backgrounds, establishing connections, and concocting numerous elements.

Or:

In the realm of purely fictional materials, both Olivier (Demangel) and I found ourselves with a world of possibilities at our fingertips. But what made it even more enjoyable was that we got to dream up their pasts, construct their relationships, and devise countless other aspects.

Jimenez notes that “Chien 51” shares a commonality with his prior projects as it is both immersive and character-centric. He expresses his preference for audiences to experience films rather than merely observe them, which is why the same narrative structure found in ‘The Stronghold’ and ‘November’ is being utilized, but with a fresh theme. Of course, the production boasts large sets, dystopian elements, and an increased focus on fictional characters.

The movie is expected to be “definitely more thrilling,” with a significant amount of tension, either through action scenes or emotional intensity, as stated.

In the upcoming film, the city of Paris will have a pivotal part. However, Jimenez points out that “it’s not the Paris like in ‘Amélie Poulain.'” Instead, it’s an identifiable but significantly altered version of Paris – a Paris that is easily recognized yet also seems dystopian due to its checkpoints and specific settings.

Following “Chien 51”, Jimenez announced that he would no longer create films focusing on law enforcement. Instead, his next project will be a biographical movie about the late French singer Johnny Hallyday, which he is co-writing with Demangel and plans to begin filming in spring 2026.

The movies that left the deepest impact on me are centered around legendary musicians. As a child, the film about The Doors resonated strongly with me. Furthermore, I’ve had a longstanding dream to create a movie focused on a rockstar, and Johnny is exceptional because he embodies the epitome of French rock stardom,” he explains. Currently, the Johnny Halliday movie is under development at Selignac’s Chi-Fou-Mi production company.

Read More

2025-02-11 21:20