THE DROWNING Acquired by Paladin and Electric Entertainment

By: Mar. 28, 2017
Enter Your Email to Unlock This Article

Plus, get the best of BroadwayWorld delivered to your inbox, and unlimited access to our editorial content across the globe.




Existing user? Just click login.

Paladin and Electric Entertainment announce their release of Bette Gordon's psychological thriller, THE DROWNING, A Film Community production opening theatrically May 10th, 2017. Based on Border Crossing, the controversial novel about violence in children by noted Booker Prize-winning author Pat Barker. The Drowning was adapted for the screen by Stephen Molton and House of Cards showrunner Frank Pugliese and stars Julia Stiles, Josh Charles, Avan Jogia, Tracie Thoms and Leo Fitzpatrick.

The Drowning is the story of a forensic psychologist who is haunted by his expert witness testimony that sent a young boy to prison for a chilling murder. When the boy later reappears in his life, he is drawn into a destructive, soul-searching reinvestigation of the case. An erotic thriller with no let up in tension, The Drowningcelebrates the genre with electrifying performances. Complex, riveting and unafraid to tread deep, murky psychological waters, this is a story of shifting identities that will keep you guessing until the very end.

The Drowning premiered at the most recent Woodstock Film Festival and went on to screen at film festivals around the world including Warsaw, Sao Paulo, Napa Valley and Savannah. The Drowning marks Gordon's second collaboration with producer Jamin O'Brien and Paladin which also released her film Handsome Harry featuring Jamey Sheridan, Steve Buscemi, Aidan Quinn and Campbell Scott in 2010.

A pioneer in American Independent Cinema, Bette Gordon is known for her bold explorations of themes related to sexuality, violence and power including her feature length debut from her own original screenplay, Variety (1984), a beautifully seductive film about voyeurism and pornography, that Film Comment calls "a unique feminist thought experiment that doubles as a love letter to Fear City-era New York." Luminous Motion (2000) was produced by Ted Hope and Anthony Bregman and stars Deborah Kara Unger in a breathtaking performance. Gordon's film Handsome Harry premiered in competition at the Tribeca Film Festival (2009) and was released theatrically by Paladin to rave reviews. The film features a stellar ensemble cast including Steve Buscemi, Aidan Quinn, Campbell Scott, Jamey Sheridan. The film critic John Powers has said, "Gordon's willingness to explore dangerous territory puts her miles ahead of most filmmakers." Gordon is a film professor at Columbia University.

Mark Urman, President and CEO of Paladin said: "The Drowning is a truly unnerving thriller that forces us to face the shocking notion that the only explanation for inexplicable behavior is that evil actually exists. It's a pleasure to be working with Bette again, and to be bringing what I believe is her best work to theaters."

The Drowning was executive produced by Elizabeth Kling, Subi Liang, Ho-Cheung Pang and produced by Radium Cheung, Daniel L. Blanc, Jamin O'Brien.

The deal for the film was negotiated by Electric Entertainment, who is handling international sales with Jonathan Gardner of Cohen Gardner LLP on behalf of the filmmakers.

About PALADIN Paladin's most recent projects include the December 2016 release, Frank & Lola, starring two time Oscar-nominee Michael Shannon and Imogen Poots. Currently in theaters are the romantic epic The Ottoman Lieutenant, starring Michiel Huisman, Hera Hilmar, Josh Hartnett, and Ben Kingsley, and the critically acclaimedChapter & Verse, starring Daniel Beaty, Loretta Devine and Omari Hardwick.

The Drowning on Facebook | Twitter



Videos