Pulsar Content has boarded “A Survivor’s Tale,” produced by KG Prods. (“Custody”), the banner founded by Costa Gavras and Michèle Ray-Gavras. The movie is headlined by Salomé Dewaels, the star of Xavier Giannoli’s Venice competition film “Lost Illusions.”
Directed by Belgian filmmaker Micha Wald, ”A Survivor’s Tale” is based on the true story of Marguerite de la Rocque, a young noblewoman abandoned in the wilderness of 16th century Canada. Condemned for being pregnant with a child born from a violent assault, she’s abandoned with her rapist and her maid on a deserted island near Newfoundland.
Marguerite must survive two harrowing years on the “Island of Demons,” facing starvation and the relentless cold. As she battles to keep herself and her unborn child alive, Marguerite’s journey becomes one of profound transformation and emancipation. Orignally titled “L’île de la Demoiselle,” the movie also stars the rising French actor Louis Peres (“For Night Will Come”).
Alexandre Gavras at KG Prods. is producing the movie with Stenola Prods. The two companies previously teamed on Joachim Lafosse’s “The Restless” and “A Silence.” Pulsar is launching international sales at Toronto.
“We hope the true story of Marguerite de la Roque’s survival and coming of age on this barren deserted island will serve as an example of the power of the human’s will to women of all ages,” said KG Prods. in a statement.
Wald made his feature debut with “In the Arms of My Enemy,” which played at Cannes’ Critics Week.
“‘A Survivor’s Tale’ is a feminist and epic period movie, the characters are strong and we’re confident they will conquer international audiences,” said Pulsar, who pointed out it told a “true story that resonates so strongly with our time.”
Stenola said that while “survivor films are often depicted by male figures, Micha Wald seizes the opportunity to deeply move us with the epic voyage of Marguerite.”
Principal photography will start in October in Brittany with the film is set to be completed by mid-2025. The Jokers Films will release in France.