Sony Pictures Classics have acquired the North American distribution rights to Amour, French filmmaker Michael Haneke’s follow-up to the multi-award winning The White Ribbon.

Amour, known as Love in English-speaking countries, tells of the struggles felt by a cultivated, retired couple, Georges (Jean-Louis Trintignant) and Anne (Emmanuelle Riva), when Anne unexpectedly suffers a life-threatening stroke. Isabelle Huppert and William Shimell co-star.

The film, which is heavily rumoured to be premiering at this year’s Cannes Film Festival next month, marks a shift for Haneke, both in pace and tone. Never one to restrain himself too heavily, however, there’s sure to be more to Amour than initially meets the eye.

No release date has been announced. But, if the film does unspool at the highly coveted French film festival next month (and why wouldn’t it), then expect this one to hit our cinema screens before the end of the year.

Source: The Playlist