Award winning French writer/director Anges Merlet (Artemisia, Le Fils du requin) is scheduled to begin production on her latest feature, ‘Dorothy Mills’, in Ireland next month. The Irish-French co-production will commence a seven week shoot on location in Wicklow and Galway.
James Flynn (King Arthur, Becoming Jane) of Octagon Films is producing alongside Marc Missonier (8 femmes), Christine De Jekel and Jean-Luc Ormieres of French outfit Fidelite Films.
Agnes Merlet, whose 1998 project ‘Artemisia’ was nominated for a Golden Globe, co-wrote the screenplay with Juliette Sales. Described as a taut, atmospheric contemporary, psychological thriller, the film follows a disturbed young woman - Dorothy Mills - who is suspected of assaulting a young baby in a rural village. She is visited by psychiatrist and outsider, Jane, who discovers that Dorothy may not be responsible for her actions and might be possessed by a horrifying and malevolent force. As she helps Dorothy, Jane is confronted with her own past tragedies and starts to unravel another terrible secret hidden by some of the local villagers.
Dutch actress Carice van Houten (Minoes, Zwartboek) is confirmed to play the role of Jane Morton with additional cast to be announced at a later date.
Shooting on 35mm format, Greek cinematographer Yorgos Arvanitis (Train of Life / Bent / Fat Girl ) will take up DOP duties. Irish crew confirmed includes costume designer Suzanne Cave (Isolation, Headrush) and production designer David Wilson (Omagh, Whatever Love Means).
Posting will take place in France with a completion date currently mooted for February 2008.
‘Dorothy Mills’ is funded by the Irish Film Board and Section 481 tax breaks.
