International Correspondent
Elsa Keslassy
@elsakeslassy

Gaumont has inked a raft of major pre-sales on Anne Fontaine’s “Gemma Bovery,” a romantic comedy with Gemma Arterton, ahead of its world premiere at Toronto.

Gaumont has pre-sold the film, a playful twist on Gustave Flaubert’s classic novel “Madame Bovary,” to Germany (Prokino), Benelux (Victory), Italy (Officine Ubu), Brazil (Mares Filmes), Scandinavia (Atlantic), Canada (Metropole), Middle East (Four Star), CIS (Exponenta), Greece (Odeon), Switzerland (Pathe) and South Korea (Sejong).

Arterton stars as a passionate young British woman who moves with her husband to a provincial Norman town where she meets a quirky, yet charming French baker.
Arterton plays opposite French star Fabrice Luchini, one of Gaul’s rare bankable actors.

“Gemma” was penned by Fontaine and Pascal Bonitzer, based on a graphic novel by Posy Simmonds, the author of “Tamara Drewe,” which was adapted to the bigscreen by Stephen Frears and also toplined Arterton. Pic was produced by Mathieu Tarot at Albertine Productions, Philippe Carcassonne at Cine@ and co-produced by Gaumont, which also handles French distribution.

The material is proving popular, as a version of “Madame Bovary,” starring Mia Wasikowska and directed by Sophie Barthes, unspools next week in TIFF.

Fontaine’s last film, “Two Mothers,” an Australia-set drama with Naomi Watts and Robin Wright, world-premiered at Sundance and sold worldwide. Her 2009 movie, “Coco Before Chanel,” starring Audrey Tautou, also traveled well.

At Toronto, Gaumont is presenting four French pics: Eric Toledano and Olivier Nakache’s “Samba” and Cedric Jimenez’s “The Connection,” both slotted for a Gala unspoolings, Regis Wargnier’s “The Gate,” set for Special Presentation, and Melanie Laurent’s sophomore pic, “Breathe,” in the Contemporary World Cinema section.

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