This past weekend a buyers-only event was held to screen a small sample of Lars von Trier's newest film, Nymphomaniac, in hopes of stirring up some interest and gaining a distributor. After late night talks last night and a finalization this morning, I can inform you that Magnolia Pictures has captured US rights to the project for around $2 million.
The film, which stars Charlotte Gainsbourg, Stellan Skarsgard, Shia LaBeouf, Jamie Bell and Christian Slater, is about a nymphomaniac who recounts her life's adventures to a man after he saves her from a beating. The high sexual content makes this likely for a multi-platform release from Magnolia, but official details haven't been announced yet as the film isn't quite complete.
For those of you who don't remember, the film garnered immense buzz last year when Shia LaBeouf proclaimed that in addition to being filmed in the buff, the sex in the film would be real (and you can't really dismiss the thought given the director's method acting style). The information has been slow go from there, and with only a few segments being screened this past weekend, much of the film still remains a mystery.
Magnolia Pictures handled Lars von Trier's most recent film, Melancholia, as well. That film starred Kristen Dunst and Gainsbourg and was purchased after a small segment was shown to buyers in Berlin.
