Catherine Breillat is set to commence her next film featuring The German Cousin.

      The exceptional Catherine Breillat made her eagerly anticipated comeback with Last Summer a few years ago, and fortunately, the wait for her next film won't be as lengthy. She is set to direct The German Cousin, an adaptation of Georges Simenon’s novel The Krull House, originally published in 1939, which focuses on the community of a rural French town on the brink of World War II, according to Deadline. The project is being produced by Saïd Ben Saïd’s SBS Productions, with Pyramide International handling the sales, and production is expected to start later next year, meaning a premiere is likely not until Cannes 2028 at the earliest.

      Here is the extended synopsis: “At the very outskirts of the city, where the industrial zone meets the countryside, there is a modest grocery café named Chez Krull, situated directly opposite a lock — the story's central feature. This café has been owned by a family of German immigrants who became French citizens for thirty years. However, Cornelius Krull, the family patriarch, only speaks a German dialect and rarely says more than two words. This elderly man of few words acts as a protective figure for the family, seemingly hiding significant secrets. As World War II approaches, the few locals nearby choose to shop in town to avoid ‘feeding the Krauts.’ The grocery continues to survive thanks to passing bargemen and the wanderers from the outskirts who frequent the café. Maria, stern and deeply religious, manages the business with strict control, intent on making the family's heritage forgotten.”

      It continues, “Joseph, her eldest son, is working on a thesis about pneumothorax and preparing to become a physician. Liesbeth, the youngest daughter, practices piano incessantly and dreams of performing abroad. Anna, the dutiful one, takes care of the home while listening to Fréhel, Maurice Chevalier, or Berthe Sylva on the radio. The family’s delicate equilibrium is disturbed by the unexpected visit of Hans, a flamboyant German cousin who has come to ‘perfect his French.’ Charming, carefree, and provocative, he immediately captivates Liesbeth and annoys the rest of the family. However, beneath his charming exterior, Hans is a fraud: everything he does is deliberate. A masterful liar and a social climber, he observes and manipulates those around him. When the body of a young woman, who has been strangled and raped, is discovered in the lock, the Krulls’ lives are drastically altered. Already under suspicion from previous incidents, the family becomes the subject of gossip. Joseph, who struggles with relationships, is quickly identified as the suspect. Hostility mounts: insults, vandalism, and threats become common. Before long, a crowd begins to gather, and more tragedy looms on the horizon.”

      View a couple of discussions with Breillat below as we await further information: