"Death on the Nile": embark on a murderous cruise with Kenneth Branagh

Europe1 .fr 10:00 a.m., February 09, 2022

In "Death on the Nile", in theaters Wednesday in partnership with Europe 1, Hercule Poirot sees his vacation in Egypt turn into a hunt for a murderer during a luxurious cruise on the Nile, when an idyllic honeymoon is brutally interrupted by a series of violent deaths.

Against the backdrop of desert landscapes and grandiose pyramids, but in a disturbing atmosphere marked by dangers, this dark affair of obsessive love with deadly consequences will destabilize everyone's certainties, chaining twists and turns of the situation until the incredible outcome!

>>> Kenneth Branagh adapts a work by Agatha Christie for the second time

Director and actor Kenneth Branagh once again takes on the role of the famous detective Hercule Poirot and signs his second film adaptation of an Agatha Christie novel after "Murder on the Orient Express" in 2017. The director confides: "Of all the author's novels are the most disturbing. Beneath a veneer of sophistication, seduction, glamor and romance, desire is present at all times, by turns fragile, devastating, dangerous and disturbing."

The film's producer James Prichard (who had also produced "Murder on the Orient Express") was particularly excited to embark on a new collaboration with the director.

He observes: "What we liked in 'Murder on the Orient Express' and which is just as true in 'Death on the Nile', is that the plot, the story and above all the atmosphere of the work are recreated on screen. For the public, it is extremely important not only to see a wonderfully modern and cinematic film, but also to come away from it feeling like they have experienced a real Agatha Christie evening. Kenneth has builds a world that reflects his unique vision and incredible sense of storytelling."

>>> A prestigious cast

Like the great productions of Hollywood's golden age, the cast of "Death on the Nile" is prestigious.

In order to embody the mysterious and emblematic characters of the novel, Kenneth Branagh called on, among others, Annette Bening (Oscar for best actress for "American Beauty" by Sam Mendes), Gal Gadot ("Wonder Woman", the saga "Fast & Furious"), Armie Hammer ("Call me by your name", "The Social Network"), Rose Leslie ("Game of Thrones"), Sophie Okonedo ("Hotel Rwanda"), Jennifer Saunders ("Absolutely Fabulous") and Tom Bateman, back as the charming Goat, Hercule Poirot's lovable, always-good-humored right-hand man.

Spectators will also find Emma Mackey, recently starring in the film "Eiffel", known in particular for her role in the series "Sex Education".

She plays Jacqueline De Bellefort, an attractive and witty young woman.

Kenneth Branagh comments: "Emma perfectly embodies her humor, her darkness, her vulnerability and her kindness. She is a complex character to which she brings great subtlety."

>>> A glamorous and mysterious setting

"Death on the Nile" takes the viewer back to the 1930s, recreating many of the settings that inspired Agatha Christie's society thriller.

From the sweltering atmosphere of London's speakeasy to the seductive aromas of Egyptian spice markets, thousands of artisans, designers and experts have worked to recreate these sumptuous environments.

Filming took place from September to December 2019 on the sets of Longcross studios, near London, as well as several locations in the United Kingdom.

The filmmakers were aware of the enormous privilege that fell to them to be able to take the public to exotic places thanks to the fertile imagination of Agatha Christie.

So they are committed to bringing that energy and excitement to the screen.

The film's dazzling costumes were created by Oscar-nominated costume designer Paco Delgado.

Of the 150 outfits needed for the film, almost 92% were created by hand by him and his team of talented artists.

Each character had a panoply of 10 costumes or dresses.

"We wanted to visually translate the year 1937", specifies Paco Delgado.

"Most of the clothes from that era disappeared with the Second World War. And since we are talking about people belonging to a certain social stratum, we wanted to find the style of the jet set of the time in the shapes and outfits. All of this meant that it was even more difficult to find genuine period pieces."

Tiffany & Co provided the leading roles with a range of magnificent diamond jewellery, the centerpiece of which is the replica of the famous 128.54-carat Tiffany Diamond, created especially for the needs of the film.

It is one of the largest and most remarkable yellow diamonds in the world.

"With all that people have been through recently with lockdown, I can't wait to share stories larger than life itself with them again. Cinema has never been so attractive, so vital and so exciting," says the director.

"Death on the Nile" is in theaters this Wednesday, in partnership with Europe 1.