HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

''Always Brando'' is a 2011 film directed by Tunisian director Ridha Behi. Originally titled ''Brando and Brando'', it was set to star
Marlon Brando Marlon Brando Jr. (April 3, 1924 – July 1, 2004) was an American actor. Widely regarded as one of the greatest cinema actors of the 20th century,''Movies in American History: An Encyclopedia''
and
Christian Erickson Christian Erickson is an American actor based in Paris, France. He is known for his role as La Trémoille in ''The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc'' (1999), as General Kormarov in the film adaption of ''Hitman (2007 film), Hitman'' and as L ...
until Brando's death. The film premiered at 2011 Toronto International Film Festival then Abu Dhabi Film Festival where producers Ziad Hamzeh and Ridha Behi received the Black Pearl award for best producers.


Plot

A story of innocence lost, of love abandoned and of dreams shattered as a young Tunisian look alike to Marlon Brando on a quest to reach the impossible dream in making it big in Hollywood.


Cast

* Anis Raach as Anis * Souhir Ben Amara as Zina *
Marlon Brando Marlon Brando Jr. (April 3, 1924 – July 1, 2004) was an American actor. Widely regarded as one of the greatest cinema actors of the 20th century,''Movies in American History: An Encyclopedia''
as himself (archive footage) *
Christian Erickson Christian Erickson is an American actor based in Paris, France. He is known for his role as La Trémoille in ''The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc'' (1999), as General Kormarov in the film adaption of ''Hitman (2007 film), Hitman'' and as L ...
* Ridha Behi * Ziad Hamzeh English Narration


Background

The project was on hold due to the star's death but the script has been reworked to continue the project. Filming began in 2010 with the film due for release in 2011. Originally, the project was announced at the 2004
Cannes Film Festival The Cannes Film Festival (; ), until 2003 called the International Film Festival ('), is the most prestigious film festival in the world. Held in Cannes, France, it previews new films of all genres, including documentaries, from all around ...
as a project starring
Marlon Brando Marlon Brando Jr. (April 3, 1924 – July 1, 2004) was an American actor. Widely regarded as one of the greatest cinema actors of the 20th century,''Movies in American History: An Encyclopedia''
and originally to be titled ''Brando and Brando'', with Brando portraying himself. Behi initially had difficulties approaching Brando and getting him to sign onto the project, with their initial meeting lasting over 5 hours. Brando eventually threw himself into the project, working with Behi on the script and making "significant changes" to "a story of broken spirits". Brando was quoted as saying of the script: "I've found it very deeply affecting." Up to a week before his death, Brando was working on the script in anticipation of a July/August 2004 start date, in
Tunisia Tunisia, officially the Republic of Tunisia, is a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It is bordered by Algeria to the west and southwest, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Tunisia also shares m ...
and
Los Angeles Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...
. Production was suspended in July 2004 following Brando's death, at which time Behi stated that would continue the film as an homage to Brando.


Production

Production resumed two years later under the new title of ''Always Brando''. The original script called for the protagonist to come face to face with Brando, but following Brando's death, and while still embodying this story, the film will now chronicle Behi's own problems in making the movie, and will include footage of Brando that Behi shot before Brando's death, becoming part fiction and part documentary.


References

"Brando to star as himself in film"
BBC News BBC News is an operational business division of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) responsible for the gathering and broadcasting of news and current affairs in the UK and around the world. The department is the world's largest broad ...
, May 19, 2004.
"Helmer revives 'Brando' project"
Nicole Laporte, ''
Variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...
'', May 25, 2006.
"Ridha Behi: On getting the last words of a legend"
Geoffrey Macnab,
The Independent ''The Independent'' is a British online newspaper. It was established in 1986 as a national morning printed paper. Nicknamed the ''Indy'', it began as a broadsheet and changed to tabloid format in 2003. The last printed edition was publis ...
, June 16, 2006.
"Brando's final film back on track"
BBC News BBC News is an operational business division of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) responsible for the gathering and broadcasting of news and current affairs in the UK and around the world. The department is the world's largest broad ...
, May 25, 2006


External links

* {{IMDb title, 1999828, Always Brando 2011 films 2010s French-language films 2010s English-language films 2010s Arabic-language films Tunisian drama films 2011 biographical drama films French biographical drama films Biographical films about actors French independent films Cultural depictions of Marlon Brando 2011 multilingual films French multilingual films 2010s French films English-language biographical drama films