❉ A wonderfully weird and fantastical romance starring Noémie Merlant.
“Totally off its rocker but also one of the most tender and honest coming-of-age stories that we could see this year” The Hollywood News ★★★★★
Jeanne, a shy young woman, lives at home with her uninhibited bartender mother and works the graveyard shift as a cleaner at an amusement park. Her mother wants her to meet a man, but Jeanne prefers tinkering in her bedroom with wires, light bulbs, and spare parts, creating miniature versions of theme park rides. During her late-night shifts she begins spending intimate time with the alluring new Tilt-A-Whirl ride that she decides to call Jumbo. Finding herself seduced by “his” red lights, smooth chrome, and oily hydraulics, Jeanne concludes that the thrilling new relationship she wants to pursue is with Jumbo.
JUMBO, the remarkable indie debut from Belgian writer/director Zoé Wittock comes to UK and Irish cinemas & virtual cinemas (via Modern Films, Anti-Worlds, Curzon Home Cinema and BFI Player) from 9 July. A wonderfully weird and fantastical romance like no other, JUMBO follows timid fairground worker Jeanne and the evolving relationship with her favourite ride Jumbo. Inspired by the real-life story of Olympic gold winner Erika LaBrie who famously fell in love with and married the Eiffel Tower, the film received critical praise following its World Premiere at Sundance 2020 and marked Wittock as one of Europe’s new directors to watch. It stars Noémie Merlant, known for her breakout performance in Céline Sciamma’s Portrait Of A Lady On Fire alongside the great Emmanuelle Bercot (Girls Of The Sun, Clément), and Sam Louwyck (Undergods, The Wonders).
Originally from Belgium, writer/director Zoé Wittock grew up travelling the world, exposing herself to a variety cultures and feeding her passion as a storyteller. At 17, she attended the International Film School of Paris where she explored all aspects of filmmaking from directing to cinematography to PA. In 2008, she was chosen to participate in the Berlin Film Festival Talent Campus #6 and was also accepted into the world famous directing program of the American Film Institute during which she was awarded the “Hal and Robyn Berson” scholarship for excellence in directing. In 2011, she graduated the youngest and with honours after finishing her thesis film, “This Is Not An Umbrella”, which was chosen to showcase at the Directors Guild of America and went on to screen at festivals around the world. She now spends her time between Brussels, Paris and Los Angeles where she is working as a writer and director in French and in English. JUMBO is her debut feature film.
❉ JUMBO: In UK & Irish cinemas from 9 July. A Film By Zoé Wittock. Starring Noémie Merlant, Emmanuelle Bercot & Sam Louwyck. 93mins / Cert 15 / French Language.
❉ News Source: Zoe Flower. For further press information please contact: ZF@antiworldsreleasing.co.uk | For Anti-Worlds updates please join the mailing list here. Twitter @anti_worlds / Instagram @anti_worlds
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