LaZona Pictures, the distribution arm of Gonzalo Salazar-Simpson's Madrid-based LaZona group, has secured the Spanish rights to the lavish Polish biopic 'Chopin, Chopin!' (also known as 'Chopin, a Sonata in Paris'). The film, directed by Michał Kwieciński and produced by Akson Studio, is a $17.5 million budget project that stars Eryk Kulm as the prodigious pianist-composer Frédéric Chopin and Lambert Wilson as King Louis-Philippe. Set in the 19th century, the drama follows Chopin's arrival in Paris at age 21 and his rapid rise to fame as the city's romantic idol, before illness redirects his focus to composition.
The film boasts a talented crew, including cinematographer Michał Sobociński, production designer Katarzyna Sobańska, and writer Bartosz Janiszewski. Shot primarily in France with approximately 80% of the dialogue in French, it targets upscale audiences and classical music enthusiasts while appealing to a broader audience with its grand, baroque aesthetic.
LaZona Pictures, which has been active in the Spanish film industry since 2003, launching a new distribution operation in 2023, is expanding its horizons. Led by former Latido Films executive Óscar Alonso, the company aims to grow step by step and take bold chances on films with wider audience potential. 'Chopin, Chopin!' is their first true European 'super-production,' according to Alonso, who also emphasizes the film's potential to resonate with classical music lovers and a broader audience.
The Spanish release, scheduled for the first quarter of next year, will partner with opera houses, conservatories, and music schools to extend its reach beyond traditional arthouse circuits. The film has already gained top-tier festival exposure and is lined up for further key screenings, solidifying its status as a prestigious event title.
'Chopin, Chopin' will close the Seville European Film Festival as the out-of-competition gala title, running from November 7-15. LaZona Pictures has been building momentum with a curated lineup of arthouse and crossover titles, and 'Chopin, Chopin' is a prime example of their ambitious European cinema offerings.
