Danish actor Mads Mikkelsen (Casino Royale) will play Russian composer Igor Stravinsky in Coco & Igor, director William Friedkin (Bug) just announced at the Cannes Film Festival.
Mikkelsen will star opposite Marina Hands (French César for best actress this year) who will embody the legendary fashion designer Coco Chanel.
Claudie Ossard (Paris, je t’aime, Amélie) and Chris Bolzli will produce for Eurowide Film Production.
Shooting will take place in Paris this September for a spring 2008 release.
Coco & Igor is adapted from the novel written by Chris Greenhalgh.
In 1913 Paris, Coco Chanel is infatuated with the rich and handsome Boy Capel, but she is also compelled by her work. Igor Stravinsky is rehearsing The Rite of Spring. The revolutionary dissonances of Igor’s work parallel Coco’s work as a radical couturière. Coco attends the scandalous first performance of The Rite in a chic white dress. The music and ballet are criticised as too modern, too foreign. Igor is inconsolable.
Seven years later, in 1920, Coco is wealthy and successful but grief-stricken as Boy Capel dies in a car crash. Igor, following the Russian Revolution is now a penniless refugee living in exile in Paris. Coco is introduced to Igor by Diaghilev, impresario of the Ballets Russes. The attraction between them is instant and electric. Coco invites Igor along with his wife – now sick with consumption – together with his four children and a menagerie of birds to stay at her new villa in Garches.
Igor spends his days composing, while Coco designs her dresses. The attraction between the two deepens, while Catherine looks on in dismay. Coco discovers the dandy in Igor, while Igor cultivates an artistic sympathy in Coco. Encouraged by Coco’s friend Misia and Igor’s friend Diaghilev, the two begin a passionate affair.
