Peter von Kant

21st feature film by French versatile filmmaker François Ozon, which was the opening film at the 72nd edition of the Berlin International Film Festival, where it competed in the Official Selection for Golden Bear. It was inspired by the acclaimed 'The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant', by Rainer Werner Fassbinder, as well as in the life of the ill-fated German filmmaker and the murky relationship he had with the Moroccan actor El Hedi ben Salem. Fassbinder is one of Ozon's main film references.

Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, 1970. Peter von Kant (Denis Ménochet) is a renowned filmmaker. Despite being initially rejected by the German film elite, due to his working-class background. However, Peter has emerged as one of the great figures of the German New Wave. Peter lives with his assistant, Karl (Stefan Crepon), whom he mistreats and humiliates.

Sidonie (Isabelle Adjani) is Peter's great actress and muse for many years. She is the one who introduces him to Amir (Khalil Ben Gharbia), a handsome young Arab with dark skin and exotic features, who aspires to be an actor, despite the few financial resources he has. Peter instantly falls in love with handsome Amir and offers him accommodation and help to enter the world of cinema, thus beginning a torrid and toxic relationship, in which both will be carried away by emotional sadomasochism.

Directed and written by François Ozon, it is Ozon's second adaptation of a work by Fassbinder, after 'Drops of water on Burning Rocks'. Starring Denis Ménochet, Isabelle Adjani, Khalil Ben Gharbia, Hanna Schygulla, Stefan Crepon and Aminthe Audiard. A FOZ production, in co-production with France 2 Cinéma, Playtime and Scope Pictures. Co-production between France, Belgium and Germany.