Alfre Woodard and André Holland are set to star in the upcoming feature The Thing That Hurts, a bittersweet comedy from acclaimed French filmmaker Arnaud Desplechin, now in production across Paris and Brussels.
Written by Desplechin alongside Kamen Velkovsky, the film is executive produced by Wes Anderson and financed by Silver Screen Global. Production is underway with filming having kicked off on April 7.
A Story Rooted in Grief, Connection, and Revelation
Set in Paris, The Thing That Hurts follows a group of patients who reunite after the death of their renowned American psychoanalyst. What begins as a gathering to honor her memory soon evolves into something far more intimate, as unexpected connections form and long-buried truths rise to the surface.
Through intersecting personal stories, the film explores grief, identity, and the invisible emotional threads that bind people together—blending humor with poignant character-driven storytelling.
Woodard and Holland will star in an ensemble that includes:
- J.K. Simmons
- Jason Schwartzman
- Felicity Jones
- Noémie Merlant
- Golshifteh Farahani
- Teddie Allen
Desplechin has described the film as a character-driven comedy about expats in Paris, drawing tonal comparisons to Midnight in Paris, with multiple storylines orbiting a central figure—the late psychoanalyst whose influence lingers over each character.
Behind the Production
The film is produced by a collaboration of 3SIX9 Studios, CG Cinema, Alaz Film, and Wrong Men, with international sales handled by Gravel Lake Entertainment and French distribution by Films du Losange.
A Cannes mainstay, Desplechin is known for films like My Golden Days and A Christmas Tale, and The Thing That Hurts continues his tradition of layered, emotionally rich storytelling with a global ensemble.