Bonjour Tristesse (2025)

[BluBonnet]

Chloë Sevigny, Claes Bang, Lily McInerny & Nailia Harzoune Lead Adaptation Of Françoise Sagan’s Classic Novel ‘Bonjour Tristesse’; South Of France Shoot Underway

Oscar nominee Chloë Sevigny (Boys Don’t Cry), European Film Awards best actor winner Claes Bang (The Square), Sundance 2022 breakout Lily McInerny (Palm Trees and Power Lines) and French actress Nailia Harzoune (Gone For Good) are leading an English-language contemporary adaptation of French writer Françoise Sagan’s classic novel Bonjour Tristesse.

London and Paris-based outfit Film Constellation is launching sales in Cannes on the project written and to be directed by newcomer Durga Chew-Bose. UTA Independent Film Group is repping domestic sales alongside Film Constellation and Elevation Pictures.

The story follows Cécile (McInerny), a young woman spending the summer in a villa in the south of France with her widowed father Raymond (Bang) and his latest love interest, Elsa (Harzoune). Theirs is a lived-in compatibility—a world of ease and languor. But all that soon changes with the arrival of Anne (Sevigny), an old friend of Raymond and Cécile’s mother. Anne’s presence and deep connection to the past alters the villa’s mood. While her way of life appears mismatched with theirs, an attraction—years in the making—forms. Desperate to regain control, Cécile sets in motion a plan to drive Anne away with tragic consequences.

Principal photography got underway last Friday in Cassis in the south of France. Sagan’s son, Denis Westhoff, is among exec producers.

McInerny stars in the lead following her critically-acclaimed performance in the Sundance and Deauville Film Festival winner Palm Trees and Power Lines, which was also nominated for four 2023 Film Independent Spirit Awards, including Best Breakthrough Performance.

The film is produced by Babe Nation Films’ Katie Bird Nolan and Lindsay Tapscott (Alice, Darling), Elevation Pictures’ Noah Segal and Christina Piovesan (Infinity Pool), Wolfgang Mueller and Benito Mueller of Barry Films (Life)and Cinenovo’s Julie Viez (Harka).

Executive producers are Fabien Westerhoff for Constellation Productions, Suzanne Court, and Westhoff.