‘Rosebush Pruning’ By karim Ainouz.
“Firebrand” director Karim Ainouz had announced his second English-language feature film, titled “Rosebushpruning” from MUBI and The Match Factory at Cannes 2023. It is an adaptation of Marco Bellochio’s “Fists in the Pocket” (1965). Riley Keough, Callum Turner and Elle Fanning are set to star. Efthimis Filippou (Dogtooth) is writing the script.
When the film was announced in 2023, Kirsten Stewart (Twilight), Josh O’Connor (Challengers) and Elle Fanning were attached to star in the film. However In September 2024, Stewart and O’Connor dropped out due to “scheduling conflicts”, and were replaced by Riley Keough (Mad Max: Fury Road, The House that Jack Built) and Callum Turner (Masters of Air). Fanning remains on board the project. In further newly-announced cast additions; Jamie Bell, Lukas Cage, Tracy Letts, Elena Anaya and Pamela Anderson have also joined the production.
Premise: In the claustrophobic confines of a rural estate, a family struggles with their tangled web of hereditary diseases. Among them is Alessandro, a young man with epilepsy and paranoid tendencies. Feeling burdened by the numerous afflictions that plague the family, he decides to murder them all.
Originally announced with the title format “Rosebushpruning”, the movie for MUBI, The Match Factory and The Apartment is an adaptation of Marco Bellochio’s 1965 psychological feature “Fists in the Pockets”.
Efthimis Filippou is penning the script. He is an incredible dark comedy writer who has worked with his longtime Greek filmmaker friend Yorgos Lanthimos. Filippou has written some of the best Yorgos films including; “The Lobster” (2015), “The Killing of the Sacred Deer” (2017), “Dogtooth” (2009) and “Alps” (2011). They most recently reunited for “Kinds of Kindness”, which released earlier this year.
“I’m so excited to bring this audacious and delicious script to life, which challenges our notions of the traditional family and the patriarchy, with this brilliant ensemble of actors who I have long admired” said Ainouz.
MUBI is financing production along with The Apartment. German Federal Film Board and the BFI also funded the film.
Principal photography began in Spain in September 2024.
Kirsten and O’Connor dropped out just as production was underway. The casting changes are believed to be caused with Stewart’s busy schedule as she’s currently immersed in post-production work on her long-gestating passion project “The Chronology of Water”, which will in all likelihood premier at Sundance 2025.
Meanwhile, O’Connor is set to start shooting Kelly Reichardt’s “The Mastermind” in October, and he’s also rumored to be involved in Steven Spielberg’s next film “The Dish”, which is set to begin principal photography in February 2025.
Ainouz will be obviously eyeing a Cannes 2025 selection, especially with Ainouz having turned into a mainstay at the festival. He premiered 2023’s “Firebrand” starring Alicia Vikander and Jude Law, and 2023’s “Motel Destino” at the festival to mixed reviews.
In 2019, Ainouz directed “The Invisible Life”, which was the Un Certain Regard winner at Cannes.
Veteran French cinematographer Helene Louvart is lensing the film. She has worked with notable directors like Wim Wenders and Agnes Varda. She also worked on Ainouz’s “Firebrand”.
