Gael Garcia Bernal & Marina Fois To Star In Cyril Cohen's Tel Aviv-Set Dramedy 'Weeping Susannah'

Mexican actor Gael Garcia Bernal is one actor whose career we always like to keep a track of considering his keen eye for directorial talent. He grew to prominence with roles in the films of Alejandro González Iñárritu ("Amores Perros," "Babel"); has since worked with names like Michel Gondry ("The Science Of Sleep"), Pedro Almodóvar ("Bad Education"), Walter Salles ("The Motorcycle Diaries") and Jim Jarmusch ("The Limits Of Control"); and has also been loosely attached to star in Martin Scorsese's next film, "Silence."

The actor is now set to team with first time director Cyril Cohen as well as French thespian Marina Fois (most recently seen in the Cannes award winning "Polisse") for a Tel Aviv-set dramedy based on Alona Kimhi's novel "Weeping Susannah." Film takes place in the aftermath of the murder of Israeli prime minister Yitzhak Rabin in 1995 and follows a thirty-something woman who lives secluded with her mother until she meets a distant cousin who opens her eyes to the outside world. Here's an extended synopsis courtesy of Amazon;

An highly original, hilariously funny and moving tale of obsession and human frailty. People don't ask Susannah Rabin whether she's related to the great Israeli leader anymore, in fact mostly people don't ask Susannah anything. She and her mother have cloistered themselves, so that Susannah won't have to be exposed to strangers, be disgusted by them, so that she can function. Just. Their tiny world is invaded when Susannah's glamorous, enigmatic cousin, Naor, arrives from New York. Naor refuses to accept that Susannah is mentally ill, and slowly wins her affection. But their friendship makes Susannah's mother anxious. What is he really doing in Israel? In the end it is this fallible, mixed up young man who will help Susannah discover the way to escape herself and be free. 'Weeping Susannah' is a stunning debut novel about a woman's quest for freedom, set against the vivid melting pot of modern Israel, a nation in search of its own identity.

Budgeted at $3.7m, the film is being backed by Barbecue Films, a company founded by Cohen and Emmanuel Murat, along side Christine Gozlan and David Poirot's Thelma Films. [Variety]