Despite the controversy surrounding the Steve McQueen-directed film, the studio still decided to buy the provocative drama and schedule to release it in theaters before the year's end.
- Sep 10, 2011
AceShowbiz - Provocative drama starring Michael Fassbender, "Shame", has found its U.S distributor. During the Toronto International Film Festival on Friday, September 9, Fox Searchlight Pictures have decided to buy the Steve McQueen-directed drama and plan to release it before this year's end.
When announcing the deal, Searchlight's Copresident Nancy Utley and Stephen Gilula stated, "Steve McQueen's courageous exploration of modern life's extreme is breathtaking. He has crafted an extraordinary film that probes some of the deepest and darkest issues ever portrayed on screen with amazingly gifted performance by Michael Fassbender and Carey Mulligan."
The buy marked the first big aquisition of the fall film festival season. Before the distribution deal with Searchlight was closed, there were other big studios including the Weinstein Co. and Oscilloscope that tried to buy the movie which is likely to be rated NC-17 for featuring gory scenes and graphic sex.
While it is believed that the studio will face difficulties to distribute the film because of its nature, producers Iain Canning and Emile Sherman said otherwise. "Their approach to marketing and distributing the film this year was incredibly detailed and impressive. We are excited to be working with them on a film that is sparking debate and a strong emotional reaction from audience," they explained.
"Shame", which has been premiered at the Venice Film Festival and played at the Telluride Film Festival in Colorado last week, follows the story of Brandon, a 30-something man living in New York who is unable to manage his sex life. After his wayward younger sister moves into his apartment, Brandon's world spirals out of control.
