One film that really stood out at this year’s Cannes Film Festival was Carlos, a five and a half hour epic by French filmmaker Oliver Assayas, who could be argued is one of the pioneering provocateurs in the emerging new wave of controversial French cinema alongside the likes of Gaspar Noe. The film centers on Venezuelan terrorist Carlos the Jackal and is said to be a mix of The Bourne Trilogy with a touch of Munich. Interestingly enough, the star of the film Édgar Ramírez, who speaks fluent English, German, French, Spanish and phonetic Arabic throughout, is best known for his work as the CIA assassin in The Bourne Ultimatum.
Originally intended as a mini-series for French TV audiences, the film will have a limited three part early release in the US courtesy of Sundance followed by the full unedited release by IFC on VOD in the fall. The trailer below is a TV promo taken from the French network where it will air. It is slightly NSFW (nipple slip) but has all the hallmarks for a potentially riveting terrorist drama that has definitely peeked my interest. Check it out and let us know what you think.