Filming has begun on director Niki Caro's new movie project, the highly anticipated film adaptation of The Vintner's Luck.

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New Zealand actress and Oscar-nominee Keisha Castle-Hughes, who came to worldwide attention in Niki Caro's Whale Rider, is re-uniting with Caro for the project. The film is based on the acclaimed novel of the same name by NZ author Elizabeth Knox. Niki Caro, whose two features Whale Rider and North Country have both earned Oscar nominations, teamed up with Joan Scheckel to write the screenplay.

The Vintner's Luck is a story of love, wine and angels. It tells the tale of Sobran, a peasant winemaker in 19th Century France and his life-long relationship with an angel.

"It's really exciting to get the project underway," said Caro. "It's a scary kind
of honour to bring Elizabeth's book to the screen," she added.

"It is my first adult role and I was initially quite nervous," said Castle-Hughes. "But now I'm really looking forward to it. It is going to be a challenge, but I love challenges," said the 18-year-old.

French actor Gaspard Ulliel plays the role of angel Xas, a curious creature who
appears more human than divine. Ulliel has more than 20 productions behind him including A Very Long Engagement and Hannibal Rising.

American actress Vera Farmiga ,who plays Baroness Aurora, had her first break when she starred opposite the late Heath Ledger in the 1997 television series Roar. She has since appeared in a number of independent feature films before coming to worldwide attention in Martin Scorsese's The Departed.

Novelist Elizabeth Knox says she is excited about the project.

"I am so pleased production is underway and am over the moon about the cast and crew. I can't wait to see the finished product, it will be like giving my book a new life," she said.

The Vintner's Luck is being produced by Laurie Parker, Robin Laing, Niki Caro,
Pascal Judelewicz, Ludi Boeken and Jean-François Klein.

The Vintner's Luck is a New Zealand-France co-production, and is backed by the New Zealand Film Production Fund, the New Zealand Film Commission, the Motion Investment Group (Belgium), OLC Rights Entertainment (Tokyo) in association with Ascension Films, Birka Film Production Sarl and Kortex Sarl. International sales are being handled by Kathleen Drumm at NZ Film.

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Comments (3)

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Woo hoo! Fantastic! THIS is the movie I'm waiting so impatiently to see. I wondered which actor would play which role and am delighted to see the casting update too.

Elle , February 20, 2008

Gaspard, the angel

Hey Elle! Hearing from you and Jed about how great the book is, you guys have really gotten me interested about this movie now and I'm anxious to hear more about it, now that filming has started. Bummer we'll have a bit of a wait for this though, before it hits theatres next year. The lead characters relationship sounds intriguing and unique, and will be interesting to see it play out on screen.

Not long ago, I happen to stumble upon a french interview with Gaspard where he spoke a little about being an angel in this, and in my somewhat rusty translation of it, from Gaspard it sounds like his angel wings are going to be quite something in this film and have a somewhat impressive wingspan. He mentioned in the interview that he had gotten "fitted for his wings".

Jan , February 20, 2008

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Hi Jan

You should try and get the book, read it before the movie comes out. It's excellent! And Xas's wings DO sound awesome, in the book too. They become a key plot point too, at one stage, so I imagine they will be quite something. The author describes them as "pure sinew and bone under a cushion of feathers", so no gauzy, translucent wings these!

Elle , February 20, 2008

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