The Indies Movie News: Cast, Plot & Release Updates

The indie sales company MoreThan Films has acquired international rights to “The Indies,” a period drama set in 17th century Europe that will premiere in the Venice Days competition section of the Venice Film Festival. The deal, announced Tuesday, positions the film as one of the more ambitious historical entries in this year’s lineup.

Directed by Swiss filmmaker Pauline Julier, “The Indies” follows two French soldiers and a young Spanish nobleman named Alejandro as they undertake a dangerous mission to deliver a portrait of the Infanta of Spain to the young King Louis XIV at Versailles. The journey, meant to seal a fragile alliance between the French and Spanish crowns, tests their endurance as the path home becomes increasingly uncertain.

The film stars Lazare Minoungou as Antoine, Raphaël Thiéry as Jehan, and Théo Urtubey as Alejandro. Julier, known for blending documentary and fiction in her previous work, shifts here into a full-bodied historical adventure that examines the collision of emerging modernity with older, more brutal worldviews.

The Journey to Versailles

The synopsis places the story at a crossroads of history. In Europe of the 1600s, scientific discoveries are reshaping how people understand the universe, even as distant colonial ventures are redrawing maps and power structures. The three men at the center of “The Indies” are thrust into this turbulent moment, tasked with a diplomatic errand that quickly becomes an ordeal.

The portrait they carry is more than a painting; it is a symbol of a political marriage alliance between the Spanish empire and the French monarchy. But the road from Spain to Versailles is long, and the dangers do not only come from bandits or weather. The narrative reportedly explores how the men themselves are caught between an old feudal order and the first stirrings of a rational, secular world.

MoreThan Films, which has built a reputation for championing auteur-driven festival titles, will handle worldwide sales. The company’s decision to board the project ahead of its Venice debut signals confidence in both the film’s commercial potential and its critical appeal.

Cast and Director

The casting choices are notable for their physicality and authenticity. Lazare Minoungou, a stage-trained actor with a commanding presence, plays Antoine, one of the French soldiers. Raphaël Thiéry, known for roles in French historical dramas, takes on Jehan. Théo Urtubey, a rising talent from Argentina, rounds out the trio as Alejandro, the Spanish nobleman whose perspective may offer a bridge between the two cultures.

Pauline Julier, who has previously directed the documentary “A Single Man” and several short films, steps into narrative feature filmmaking with a story that deals in epic scale. Her background in visual arts often informs her cinematic language, and early descriptions suggest “The Indies” will marry painterly compositions with a gritty sense of movement.

No release date or runtime has been announced. The TMDb rating remains at zero, as is typical for a film that has not yet screened publicly. The Venice Days sidebar, which runs parallel to the main competition of the Venice Film Festival, is known for spotlighting emerging directors and unconventional storytelling. “The Indies” fits that brief squarely.

As the film gears up for its late-summer premiere, the industry will be watching to see whether Julier’s shift from documentary to historical adventure lands with buyers and critics alike. MoreThan Films has not yet revealed a full slate of territories for sales, but the Venice platform is likely to accelerate interest.

For now, “The Indies” remains a title to track - one that promises to carry audiences through a Europe on the verge of transformation, guided by three men who may not survive the journey.

Source: Variety