1-2 Special Acquires Emmanuel Marre’s ‘A Man Of His Time’
1-2 Special has acquired all North American distribution rights to Emmanuel Marre’s Cannes competition title A Man of His Time.
The film had its world premiere at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival in Competition, where it was awarded the Best Screenplay Prize. 1-2 Special will release the film in theaters next year.
Inspired by the life of Marre’s own great-grandfather, the film is set in 1940 and follows Henri Marre (Swann Arlaud) as he arrives alone in Vichy, France, as the Nazi-collaborating regime settles in. Broke, estranged from his family, and carrying copies of his self-published manifesto “Notre Salut (Our Salvation),” the 49-year-old is determined to secure what he believes is his rightful place in the new fascist administration.
As he sets his plan into motion, he does whatever is required to remain useful, serving the machinery of the new order with increasing skill, but as the war continues, he may be pursuing something more urgent: escape from his own ruin.
Alongside the Best Screenplay Prize, the film was also awarded the Prix des Cinémas Art et Essai, received a Special Mention from the Prix de la Citoyenneté jury, and earned the CST Award for Best Artist-Technician. The film is Emmanuel Marre’s second feature following Zero Fucks Given, which premiered at the 2021 Cannes Critics’ Week, where it won the Gan Foundation Award.
A Man of His Time was produced by Kidam in France and Michigan Films in Belgium, and was co-produced by Les Films Pelléas, Les Films de Pierre, Unité, France 2, Condor, The Ink Connection, RTBF, Be tv, Orange and Proximus.
