Pathe Distribution has scheduled a UK release date of July 18 for Buffalo Soldiers, the long-delayed GIs and drugs feature which Miramax Films held back in North America after September 11.

The UK distributor said it is going out on a hefty 250 prints on the film, which it acquired when it took over the bulk of FilmFour's slate. In the US, Miramax will release the film on July 25 in New York and Los Angeles, expanding on August 8.

Buffalo Soldiers, which stars Joaquin Phoenix, Anna Paquin, Ed Harris and Scott Glenn, bombed in Germany last year after a campaign which played up its political elements.

At heart, however, the film is more pitch black comedy than political satire. Phoenix stars as a wheeler dealing GI stationed in Germany who relieves his boredom with anything from selling stolen Mop 'n' Glo to the locals, to cooking up heroin.

The adaptation of Robert O'Connor's novel was written and directed by Gregor Jordan and produced Rainer Grupe and Ariane Moody.