Shooting of The Braid, an international co-production - with Indigo Film as the Italian co-producer - has begun in Monopoli and Conversano. The crew will shoot for three weeks in Apulia, thanks in part to the patronage of the two municipalities providing locations.
The Braid is the adaptation of the best seller La Tresse by Laetitia Colombani who has also written the screenplay and will direct the film. The book quickly became an international phenomenon and was translated into 40 languages, selling over 2 million copies; it is published in Italy as La treccia by Casa Editrice Nord.
The film has three interlinking episodes, shot in Italy, Canada and India, focussing on three women played by Fotinì Peluso, Kim Raver and Mia Maelzer.
India. Smita is an ‘untouchable’. She dreams of giving her young daughter an education and will do anything to make that happen. She makes an important decision: she will leave everything and go South, in search of a better life. Italy. Giulia works in her father’s wig workshop. When her father is the victim of a serious accident, she discovers that the family company’s financial situation is dire. Canada. Sarah is a successful lawyer. Just as she expects a big promotion, her life is shattered when she’s diagnosed with breast cancer… Unknowingly intertwined by the most precious thing they have, Smita, Giulia and Sarah refuse the destiny assigned them and decide to fight, creating a network of hope and solidarity.
“We are very happy to be able to co-produce this international project that begins with a novel that has moved millions of readers around the world. The story of these three strong women, united by their tenacity and determination to make their dreams and hopes come true immediately won us over. Shot in three different continents, The Braid is also an excellent opportunity to show international viewers the beauty of Italy” - Indigo Film.
Produced by Curiosa Films and Moana Films in co-production with Indigo Film for Italy, Forum Films for Canada and SND for France, The Braid is benefitting from grants from the Apulia Film Fund of the Apulia Film Commission and Regione Puglia using resources from POR Puglia FESR-FSE 2014/2020, and the Call for Minority Co-productions 2020 issued by the Direzione generale Cinema e audiovisivo of the Ministry of Culture.