9 Month Stretch (French: 9 mois ferme) is a 2013 French comedy film written, directed by and starring Albert Dupontel. It was nominated for six categories at the 39th César Awards including Best Film and Best Director and Best Actor for Dupontel, winning Best Actress for its co-star Sandrine Kiberlain and Best Original Screenplay.[2][3]

9 Month Stretch
Film poster
Directed byAlbert Dupontel
Written byAlbert Dupontel
Produced byCatherine Bozorgan
StarringSandrine Kiberlain
Albert Dupontel
CinematographyVincent Mathias
Edited byChristophe Pinel
Music byChristophe Julien
Distributed byWild Bunch Distribution
Release date
  • 16 October 2013 (2013-10-16)
Running time
82 minutes
CountryFrance
LanguageFrench
Budget$8.5 million
Box office$17.9 million[1]

Plot

edit

Ariane Felder, a judge in her forties a little stuck, single, is totally reluctant to date men. On New Year's Eve 2013, strongly encouraged by her colleagues, she drinks more than enough and loses control of herself.

Six months later, Ariane discovers that she is pregnant but not sure who is the father. She first thinks that it is a judge De Bernard, an enterprising colleague who is too sweet with her. However, she conducts an investigation and discovers that the father of her child is the famous Robert Nolan, alias "Bob Nolan", lover of prostitutes and burglar multiple repeat offenders, suspected of having cut the four limbs of an old man.

Being arrested, Nolan seems to recognize the judge during an interview with her, still unaware that the child she is carrying is his. Later, on the run, he breaks into her home, surprises her attempting a "criminal" abortion by intentionally falling on her stomach from a pile of furniture. Finally, he offers a deal: he won't reveal anything about his nights if she helps him demonstrate that he's not the barbaric eye-eater who is making headlines around the world.

Cast

edit

Background

edit

Dupontel was inspired by 10e chambre, instants d'audience, a documentary by Raymond Depardon in which judge Michèle Bernard-Requin appears. Bernard-Requin also plays a judge in Neuf mois ferme.

Dupontel originally intended to make Neuf mois ferme his first English-language film, with Emma Thompson playing Ariane Felder.

The name of the coroner Toulate ("too late") character comes from this first intention.[4] He chose to name his main character Ariane in reference to Ariadne as this character loses the thread. Attorney Trolos' name means stutterer in Ancient Greek.

Awards

edit
  • Best Actress (Sandrine Kiberlain)
  • Best Original Screenplay

References

edit
  1. ^ "9-Month Stretch". Box Office Mojo.
  2. ^ "Berenice Bejo, Lea Seydoux, Roman Polanski Among France's Cesar Awards Nominees". Hollywood Reporter. 31 January 2014. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
  3. ^ "France's Cesar Awards: 'Me, Myself and Mum' Wins Best Film". Hollywood Reporter. 28 February 2014. Retrieved 1 March 2014.
  4. ^ "Blog - Albert Dupontel". 28 June 2020.
edit