From the beginning of January to the end of July 2001, admissions to French-language films in theaters abroad rose by 40% compared to the same period in 2000.
These figures, calculated from results from the 7 major territories, show promise for an an excellent year for French cinema abroad in 2001.
Results by country
The most significant increases in attendance figures were registered in Germany (+178%) and Quebec (+143%), with Italy (+42%) and Switzerland (+41%) coming far behind. It should be noted, however, that the sharp uptrend in Germany does not indicate a revival in French films' market in the territory, but rather reflects the overwhelming success of “The Crimson Rivers.” (See Results by film below.)
The fine results achieved in the United States and Spain in 2000 are holding steady.
The only country displaying a downturn is Great Britain (-32%), a territory that is becoming increasingly difficult for non-English-language films to capture.
Results by film
This dynamism is due to a collection of successful titles, although certain films with strong potential on the international circuit lead the show. “The Crimson Rivers” has attracted high audiences almost everywhere, with outstanding results in some territories such as Germany (more than 800,000 admissions). Other strong titles of the first half of the year, most of which were launched on the international market at the end of 2000, include: “The Closet,” “The Widow of Saint-Pierre,” “The Taste of Others,” “Harry, He’s Here to Help,” “Nightcap,” “Beneath the Sand” and “Intimacy.”
What’s ahead in the next six months
Numerous upcoming releases planned for the last half of the year also look promising and will no doubt reinforce this upward trend. “Amelie” and “Brotherhood of the Wolf” are particularly noteworthy, as their initial returns favor record-breaking final results.
Given present trends, it’s highly probable that French-language films will amass at least 20 million admissions in the foreign market in 2001, as opposed to around 17 million in 2000.
