Jumbo is coming to UK and Irish cinemas & virtual cinemas from the 9th July. Inspired by the real-life story of Olympic gold winner Erika LaBrie who famously fell in love with and married the Eiffel Tower, the film has received critical praise following its World Premiere at Sundance 2020 and marked director Zoé Wittock as one of Europe’s new directors to watch. Jumbo is her debut feature film.
Coming across the story of LaBrie, Wittock was compelled to meet her. “It struck me as the most improbable story, but it encouraged me to think further: How did she become like that? What draws her to objects? How does she experience her love? When did she know? So I contacted her… Only to realize she was one of the most grounded people I had ever met. The contrast was fascinating.” Jumbo is not a true story or bipoic though, merely using LaBrie’s story as inspiration for a fictional tale.
The full synopsis –
Jeanne, a shy young woman, lives at home with her uninhibited bartender mother and works the graveyard shift as a cleaner at an amusement park. Her mother wants her to meet a man, but Jeanne prefers tinkering in her bedroom with wires, light bulbs, and spare parts, creating miniature versions of theme park rides. During her late-night shifts she begins spending intimate time with the alluring new Tilt-A-Whirl ride that she decides to call Jumbo. Finding herself seduced by “his” red lights, smooth chrome, and oily hydraulics, Jeanne concludes that the thrilling new relationship she wants to pursue is with Jumbo.
Jumbo stars Noémie Merlant, known for her breakout performance in Céline Sciamma’s Portrait Of A Lady On Fire last year, as well as Emmanuelle Bercot (Girls Of The Sun), and Sam Louwyck (Undergods).
An unusual and original idea, Jumbo will be in cinemas and virtual cinemas courtesy of Modern Films, Anti-Worlds, Curzon Home Cinema and BFI Player from the 9th July.
Take a peek at the poster and trailer below.
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