LaZona Pictures, the distribution arm of Gonzalo Salazar-Simpson's Madrid-based LaZona group, has secured the Spanish distribution rights for the lavish Polish biopic, 'Chopin, Chopin!' (also known as 'Chopin, a Sonata in Paris'). This film, helmed by Michał Kwieciński and produced by Akson Studio, is a $17.5 million budget biopic about the life of the prodigious pianist-composer, Frédéric Chopin. The film stars Eryk Kulm as Chopin and Lambert Wilson as King Louis-Philippe. Set in the 19th century, the drama follows Chopin's arrival in Paris at the age of 21 and his rapid rise to fame as the city's romantic idol, before illness redirects his focus to composition. The film boasts high-end craft talent, including cinematographer Michał Sobociński, production designer Katarzyna Sobańska, and writer Bartosz Janiszewski. Shot primarily in France with approximately 80% of the dialogue in French, the film targets upscale audiences and classical music aficionados, while also aiming for broader crossover appeal through its sweeping, baroque aesthetic. LaZona Pictures, which has been producing Spanish top hits since 2003, launched a new film distribution operation in 2023, led by former Latido Films executive, Óscar Alonso. 'Chopin, Chopin!' is the first true European 'super-production' on LaZona's slate, indicating a commitment to growth and bold swings at films with wider audience potential. Positioned as a 'rock-star portrait of the Romantic era', the Spanish release, scheduled for the first quarter of next year, will activate partnerships with opera houses, conservatories, and music schools to extend its reach beyond core arthouse circuits. LaZona Pictures has been ramping up since last year with a curated line of arthouse and crossover titles, and 'Chopin, Chopin' has already secured top-tier festival exposure, including its role as the closing film at the Seville European Film Festival. It's the kind of ambitious European cinema that doesn't come along every year, and LaZona is confident it can resonate with classical music lovers and a much wider audience drawn to grand, emotionally charged storytelling.
