Before modification by DomA at 27/10/2013 11:46:38 PM
I'd been holding out hope for you to reply as the only other person on this board likely to actually have seen the movie.
I just read <a href="http://www.rue89.com/rue89-culture/2013/10/23/abdellatif-kechiche-a-ceux-voulaient-detruire-vie-dadele-246826">Kechiche's diatribe</a> on all the accusations against him... and I'm inclined to agree with the editor of the website who warned him beforehand that his diatribe might lead some to view him as paranoid. Though he may still have some good points - it's a long piece, much of it not really relating to this movie as such, but making some interesting accusations against certain journalists about having slandered other Cannes winners or jury members besides himself.
As for "undermined the movie's international career", though, let's be serious - as I wrote in my review, this kind of controversy can only increase the movie's box office.
I would hope that Kechiche has friends who will dissuade him from a move as foolish as suing Seydoux. But if your source for that rumour is no more than the vague threat in Kechice's piece, I think there is not much danger of a real suit being brought.
I don't know. When he came here (or talked over the phone from Paris, I'm not sure) to promote the movie he didn't sound all that paranoid or excessive in his interviews. He sounded quite hurt by the controversy, though.
I don't know what effects the controversy had produced. The movie worked well in France. Here the movie has performed not quite as well as anticipated (for a movie in that category) despite the unanimous raving reviews.
It wouldn't stop me from going to see the movie but I know it's stopped my mom and her friends from going to see it, and they're pretty much in the target audience for this sort of French movies.
As for the question: I haven't seen it. Too busy with work.