Quebec-based prodcos Attraction and Les Productions La Fête have announced the start of production on the feature film Mlle Bottine, with shooting to continue until Nov. 9 in Montreal and the surrounding area.

The film is directed by Yan Lanouette Turgeon and written by Dominic James and is inspired by the children’s book Bach and Broccoli (Bach et Bottine), part of the Tales for All series of books. It’s produced by Antonello Cozzolino, Dominic James and Brigitte Léveillé.

Previously adapted onscreen by director André Melançon in 1986 as Bach and Broccoli, the new production stars Antoine Bertrand (pictured left) and Marguerite Laurence (pictured right) in the lead roles. Mateo Laurent Memberño Daigle, Mani Soleymanlou, Marilyn Castonguay, Ellen David, Benoît Gouin, Jean-François Provençal, Louise Turcot, Myriam Fournier and Dino Tavarone round out the cast.

The story follows an opera composer (Bertrand) seeking inspiration who is forced to take in his niece (Laurence), a rebellious and eccentric orphan whose unlikely best friend is a skunk.

Mlle Bottine will be distributed by Immina Films and is being produced by Attraction and Les Productions La Fête with the financial support of SODEC, Telefilm Canada, the Quebecor Fund, TVA Group and Immina Films.

Photos by Jocelyn Michel (Antoine Bertrand), Larance Photographie (Marguerite Laurence)