The producers of C.R.A.Z.Y., which sold to over 75 countries, may have another international hit on their hands with their summer action flick Nitro. The Cirrus Communications production has been picked up by distributors in Thailand, Brazil and Japan, following a purchase by Revolver in the U.K., which took the title almost immediately after it was released at the end of June by Alliance Atlantis Vivafilm, says producer Pierre Even.

‘Great Britain was interested really quickly. They saw its success here and wanted to buy it,’ Even tells Playback Daily.

The international distribution rights for the $7.2-million ‘action love story’ have been held by H2O Motion for two weeks. After following up on preliminary agreements Even had reached with Revolver in Britain and Movie-Eye in Japan, H2O announced this week that it’s also signed on IPA in Thailand and Alphaville in Brazil. The Japanese in particular liked the car chases, says Even.

Even believes it appeals to audiences around the world because it’s more than just an action movie. ‘The story is quite dramatic and emotional as well,’ he says.

Cirrus bills the film as a Quebec version of The Fast and the Furious. The plot revolves around a man’s desperate quest to find a new heart for his dying wife. Quebec TV star Guillaume Lemay-Thivierge (Trudeau II: Maverick in the Making, Casino) and Lucie Laurier (Bon Cop, Bad Cop) are in the lead roles. Alain Desrochers (Les Bougon: c’est aussi ça la vie) directs.

The film grossed $2.5 million after two only weeks in theaters. In mid-July, the action pic topped the chart among Canadian-made films, and placed sixth overall, ahead of the thriller 1408 and comedies Knocked Up and Evan Almighty.