Arnaud Desplechin Discovers the Rhythm in U.S. Trailer for Two Pianos

      It has been a considerable amount of time since a film by the esteemed Arnaud Desplechin had a theatrical release in the U.S., but that changes this May with the release of Two Pianos by Kino Lorber. Featuring François Civil, Nadia Tereszkiewicz, and Charlotte Rampling, this selection from TIFF and Rendez-Vous with French Cinema will hit theaters on May 1, and the new trailer and poster are now available.

      Here’s the synopsis: “Pianist Mathias (François Civil) returns to his hometown of Lyon after years spent teaching and performing in Japan. He has been called back to perform a duet with his former teacher Elena (Charlotte Rampling) during her final concerts—a reunion with a demanding mentor that turns out to be less challenging than encountering an old, charismatic but unpredictable love, Claude (Nadia Tereszkiewicz). Rising star Civil (who rigorously trained to perform Bach onscreen) makes a fitting partner for the legendary and typically commanding Rampling. Themes of psychologically complex homecomings and the unexpected reunions they can inspire—both romantic and otherwise—are common motifs in Desplechin's films, and he revisits this thematic territory in his usual vibrant style against the backdrop of a city he has never filmed in before.”

      C.J. Prince noted in his TIFF review, “The past resurfaces in Two Pianos, Arnaud Desplechin’s latest exploration of how beautiful individuals complicate the messiness of life itself. Set within the realm of classical music in Lyon, this story of a troubled pianist reuniting with his equally troubled first love features the literary and melodramatic elements typically associated with Desplechin. Unfortunately, he has not had a theatrical release in the U.S. since 2017's Ismael’s Ghosts, which has led to his work falling out of favor here. However, he continues to enjoy a prolific career in his native France, attracting some of the country's finest actors. With Two Pianos, he offers a nuanced and insightful examination of how our lives can be molded around our deepest regrets.”

      Check out the trailer and poster below.