The distributor has picked up North American rights from Pathé International to French writer-director Danièle Thompson’s period drama.

Cézanne Et Moi

Cézanne Et Moi stars Guillaume Canet and Guillaume Gallienne as the 19th century post-Impressionist painter and novelist Emile Zola.

The film chronicles the decade-long friendship between the friends and traces the parallel paths of their lives and careers from Aix-en-Provence to Paris.

Albert Koski produced through his G Films.

Pathé International introduced the film to buyers at the AFM last year and has since closed deals with Germany (Prokino), Scandinavia (Njuta Films), Belgium (Alternative), Hong Kong (Edko), Japan (Cetera), the Middle East (Gulf Film) and the Netherlands (Cherry Pickers).

Rights have also gone to Brazil (Moviebridge), Portugal (Cinemundo), South Korea (Green Narae), Taiwan (Joint Entertainment), Turkey (Bir Film) and Greece (Feelgood).

Magnolia Pictures president Eamonn Bowles said: “Audiences will relish the opportunity to experience the relationship between these two legendary artists in Danièle’s compelling and moving film.”

Cézanne Et Moi is one of this year’s most ambitious French films,” said Muriel Sauzay, executive vice-president of international sales at Pathé International.

“It provides an epic tale of two giants of arts and culture, a strong cast, and a director like Danièle Thompson with the sensibility to bring out the emotional resonance of such a deep and complex friendship. It’s a movie that will appeal both to Cézanne and Zola’s most ardent admirers but also much wider movie going audiences in search of a great story.”