Paris-based MMM Film Sales has picked up “Versailles,” from “Roma” and “Birds of Passage” producer Pimienta Films and its director Andrés Clariond Rangel’s Cinematográfica CR.
Its trailer bows exclusively in Variety (below) ahead of its world premiere at Black Nights Film Festival in Tallinn, Estonia. A topical absurdist comedy about wanna-be autocrats, it melds cinematic realism with theatrical excess, drawing on such inspirations as “The Favourite,” “The Death of Stalin” and “The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie.”
Co-written by Clariond Rangel and Alo Valenzuela, “Versailles” stars Cuauhtli Jiménez (“Finlandia,” “Narcos: Mexico”) in his first leading role and Spain’s Maggie Civantos (“Vis a Vis,” “Cable Girls”).
It follows Chema (Jiménez), a young Mexican politician, who, when unceremoniously passed over by his party to run for president, retreats with his glamorous Spanish wife (Civantos) to their sprawling hacienda. Ever more frustrated, their lust for power chafes at them, and they reinvent themselves as monarchs—ruling over their employees with mounting harshness, delusion and indulgent excess.
“I think there are many films about politics but not that many about the psychology of politicians and that’s what I wanted to do with this film,” Clariond Rangel told Variety as he sees “Versailles” as an exploration of how the loss of power and influence messes with politicians’ heads.
It also gave him the chance to deal with his two biggest passions, cinema and politics. Aside from making films, he is a political columnist at Mexico’s leading newspaper, Reforma.
On casting Jiménez, he said: “I saw many actors, but I really liked him because he brought a sense of vulnerability to the role,” adding that most actors, when asked to play a politician, become very strident and outspoken but Jiménez showed a more human, vulnerable side instead.
“Versailles” (Courtesy of Pimienta Films)
“Versailles,” his third film, is also the first time that Clariond Rangel shoots in his hometown of Monterrey, where he cast most of his supporting actors, theater actors who make their feature film debut with “Versailles.” The film was mostly shot in the Hacienda Soledad, a cattle ranch dominated by an imposing formal mansion and manicured gardens.
Clariond Rangel likens “Versailles” to his debut pic, “Hilda.” They’re similar not in a political sense but in that they both deal with the themes of classicism and racism, he noted.
“I worked with Andrés on ‘Hilda,’ which was one of my first films as a producer and also one of the first for Pimienta Films,” Pimienta founder, Nicolas Celis, said.
“It was a bold directorial debut because it managed to stand on its own without falling into straight comedy or drama, delivering a powerful, entertaining film full of dark humor and irony while also presenting a social critique,” he added, noting that it received several awards, particularly for the actresses, led by Adriana Paz.
“Since 2021, Andrés has also been a partner at Pimienta Films, which reflects the trust and friendship we’ve built. I’m very excited to support him now with ‘Versailles,’ which I feel represents a step forward both in his career and in our collaboration,” Celis told Variety.
“I feel that ‘Hilda’ laid the foundation for what is now a rising career. Andrés has a very particular taste for dark humor, for navigating that line between drama and genre, with uncomfortable themes and a sharp political perspective,” he remarked.
“In ‘Versailles,’ he achieves something very interesting: an intimate story about the loss of power in a politician who is nothing without it. Set in a remote part of Mexico, it elegantly tackles deep-rooted issues in the country, such as classism and racism. It’s a film with a strong critical edge, filled with absurdity, irony and taking everything to the extreme,” added Celis, who shares producing credits with Mariela Martínez and Alejandro Durán.
Black Nights takes place Nov. 7 – 23.
