French label Pathe will add two titles to its Blu-ray catalog in September: Philippe de Broca's adventure comedy
L'Africain a.k.a.
The African (1983), starring Catherine Deneuve, Philippe Noiret, and Jean-François Balmer, and Jean Yanne's
Deux heures moins le quart avant Jésus-Christ a.k.a.
Quarter to Two Before Jesus Christ (1982), starring Coluche, Michel Serrault, Jean Yanne, and Françoise Fabian.
The African
Former lovers Victor (Philippe Noriet) and Charlotte (Catherine Deneuve) reunite in Africa and are quickly forced to confront a gang of ruthless ivory smugglers. With a soundtrack by the legendary Georges Delerue (
Platoon,
One Deadly Summer). STREET DATE: September 10.
Quarter to Two Before Jesus Christ
The setting for this story is Rahatlocoum, a Roman colony in North Africa, but the "colonists" watch television, have gay bars, trade unions, and traffic problems -- something like the "Flintstones" in an Afro-French incarnation, slipping around on Monty Pythonesque dialogue. A gay Jules César's (Michel Sarrault) expensive vacation causes the population to grumble and gripe, they would rather have mechanic Ben Hur Marcel (Coluche) take Jules' place as their exalted leader. Once she gets out of jail, Cleopatra (Mimi Coutellier) declares that old Ben is actually her long-lost half-brother, and lo and behold, Marcel of the chariot taxis is named the new pharaoh, Aminemphet. (Synopsis courtesy of allmovie.com). STREET DATE: September 10.