USA: FRENCH ACTOR JEAN RENO STARS WITH AMERICAN MERCEDES RUEHL AND BRITON POLLY WALKER IN THE ITALIAN-SET COMEDY "FOR ROSEANNA"

Record ID: 387118

  • Title: USA: FRENCH ACTOR JEAN RENO STARS WITH AMERICAN MERCEDES RUEHL AND BRITON POLLY WALKER IN THE ITALIAN-SET COMEDY "FOR ROSEANNA"
  • Date: 20th July 1997
  • Summary: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (JULY 20, 1997 ) (RTV - ACCESS ALL) JEAN RENO (SOUNDBITE ITALIAN ) SAYING, "IN CASE MERCEDES GOES TO HER GRAVE, HE HAS TO RESERVE A PLACE. SO HE FINDS HIMSELF IN A CRAZY SITUATION IN THIS LITTLE VILLAGE AND HE HAS TO STOP PEOPLE FROM DYING"
  • Embargoed: 4th August 1997 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES AND FILM lOCATIONS
  • Country: USA
  • Reuters ID: LVA8QRDPAYCH1EAUYT7BDSXU6JT8
  • Story Text: International is the word in Fine Line's recent romantic comedy "For Roseanna". French actor Jean Reno and Oscar-winner Merceds Ruehl are paired in an Italian setting by Brit director Paul Weiland. The film also includes a cast of British and Italian actors.

    Set in Travento, a tiny Italian village with a timeless quality, "For Roseanna" is the story of a husband and wife who face being parted by death.

    Reno (The Professional, Mission Impossible and French Kiss) plays Marcello, the owner of a trattoria on a life-or-death mission. He has promised his terminally ill wife, played by Ruehl (The Fisher King) that she will be buried in the local cemetery, next to their long-deceased daughter. But there are only three plots left.

    The film's farcical humour arises from Marcello's frenzied attempts to reserve a plot from his wife, Roseanna. His attempts become extreme as he tries to prevent everyone in the village from dying.

    Meanwhile Roseanna is making plans for her husband's life after her death. British actress Polly Walker plays her perky sister, Cecilia whom Roseanna sees as a good match for Marcello. Her earnest suitor, Antonio (Mark Frankel) adds to the farcical mix.

    "For Roseanna" is unique in that it is a European production with a British director, financed in America by Spelling Films and Fine Line Features.

    The dialogue is in English but the actors were presented with the challenge of speaking with an Italian inflection.

    Reno has performed in english in Brian de Palma's "Mission Impossible" and Lawrence Kasdan's "French Kiss". In his home country he is best known for his performance as the time-travelling medieval knight in the sci-fi comedy "Les Visiteurs." The actor speaks fluent Italian and prepared for the role by spending a few weeks with a friend in Bergamo and studying the locals.

    Ruehl, an American of Irish-Cuban-Spanish-Alsatian heritage spent several weeks with the film's three dialogue coaches perfecting her Italian accent.
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