Film Movement has acquired US rights to Olivier Masset-Depasse’s French and Russian- language immigration drama Illegal.

The company plans a limited theatrical run and premiere day-and-date on Cable VOD.

Illegal follows a teacher from Russia living without permission in Belgium with her son. When she is arrested and thrown into an immigration detention centre she fights deportation and battles to be reunited with her boy.

 “This is a timely and powerful film that puts a human face on the issue of immigrant rights,” Film Movement president Adley Gartenstein, who brokered the deal with Francois Yon of Films Distribution, said.

“We believe it’s an important movie for American audiences to see, and Anne Coesens gives a heart-wrenching performance that will certainly maintain the public riveted throughout.

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