Variety has been granted exclusive access to the trailer for Portuguese director Miguel Gomes' film 'Grand Tour,' set to premiere at the Cannes Film Festival. The distribution of the film will be handled by Tandem in France and Lucky Red in Italy. Gomes' next project, 'Savagery,' has also been announced.
'Grand Tour' is a period piece that begins in 1917 in Burma, following the story of Edward, a British civil servant who flees from his fiancée Molly on their wedding day. The film stars Gonçalo Waddington and Crista Alfaiate, among others, and is being sold by The Match Factory.
The production of 'Grand Tour' involved shooting in seven Asian countries with a documentary-style crew, using 16mm film to capture authentic footage. The narrative sequences were shot in studios in Portugal and Italy, with the film's completion in October 2023.
The film's producer shared insights into the challenges faced during production, including navigating the unconventional approach of shooting without a script initially. Despite the risks involved, the team successfully secured funding and completed the project.
'Grand Tour' is described as a blend of comedy and tragedy, with a melancholic and courageous tone that aims to evoke emotional connections with the audience. The film was submitted to Cannes in November for a world premiere, aligning with the producer's vision for its debut.
Looking ahead, the producer revealed plans for Gomes' upcoming film 'Savagery,' set in Brazil and co-produced with Tatiana Leite. The decision to move forward with the project was influenced by recent political changes in Brazil, signaling a new chapter for Gomes' creative endeavors.