Warner Bros. Pictures To Distribute Patrice Leconte’s New Film “Rue Des Plaisirs” (“Love Streets”) In Italy

(November 12, 2001 - Burbank, CA) - Warner Bros. Pictures has acquired the Italian distribution rights to “Rue des Plaisirs” (“Love Streets”), the latest film from noted French director Patrice Leconte. Set in Paris in 1945, “Rue des Plaisirs” tells the story of a young woman who is displaced when town locals close down the brothel where she works. The brothel’s handyman, while deeply in love with the woman, realizes that she’ll never be his, so he sets out to find her the perfect man. Laetitia Casta stars as the young woman, Patrick Timsit as the handyman, and Vincent Elbaz as the woman’s potential paramour. “We’re thrilled to be working with a filmmaker of Patrice Leconte’s stature,” says Simona Benzakein, Vice President, European Productions, Warner Bros. Pictures. “He’s one of the most respected talents working in French cinema today, and we believe this film will work well beyond its country of origin.” Leconte has directed more than 20 movies in the last three decades and written more than a dozen of those films. His most recent efforts include 2000’s “Felix et Lola” (“Felix and Lola”) and “La Veuve de Saint Pierre” (“The Widow of St.Pierre”), 1999’s “La Fille Sur le Pont” (“The Girl on the Bridge”) and 1996’s “Ridicule.” This rights acquisition follows a number of recent production and acquisition activities by Warner Bros. Pictures Europe, including a long-term, multifaceted production and distribution deal with X-Filme in Germany, as well as “La Verite Si Je Mens! 2” (one of the most successful French films ever); “Le Boulet,” a French-language co-production between Warner Bros. Pictures and La Petite Reine; and the acquisition of rights to the 2001 Cannes Palm d’Or-winning Italian film “La Stanza del Figlio” (“The Son’s Room”) for Spain, Latin America, and Japan. # # #