Charlotte Rampling's '45 Years' gets a North American distributor

BERLIN, Feb. 12 (UPI) -- Sundance Selects announced Thursday that it is acquiring the North American distribution rights to Andrew Haigh's 45 Years.

Based on the short story by David Constantine and adapted by Haigh, the film stars Charlotte Rampling and Tom Courtenay. It had its world premiere this week in competition at the 2015 Berlin International Film Festival.

A synopsis said the drama follows Kate "who is in the middle of preparations for her 45th wedding anniversary when her husband Geoff receives the news that the body of his old girlfriend, who died 50 years earlier in a fatal accident in the Swiss Alps, has finally been found, frozen in ice and time. Geoff retreats into a distant world of memories while Kate endeavors to suppress her burgeoning jealousy and anxiety with pragmatism."

The film was produced by Tristan Goligher at London-based The Bureau. The film's executive producers are Christopher Collins, Lizzie Francke, Sam Lavender, Tessa Ross, Richard Holmes and Vincent Gadelle.

"45 Years is a poignant exploration of love, life, and commitment," Jonathan Sehring, president of Sundance Selects/IFC Films, said in a statement. "We loved collaborating with Andrew on Weekend, and are thrilled to be working with him and Tristan once again."

"Working with Sundance Selects on Weekend was an incredible experience and they did a wonderful job with that film. They are true lovers of cinema and I am incredibly excited to be back with them," added Haigh.

"The breakout success of Weekend owed so much to the passion and belief of Sundance Selects. We're delighted to be partnering with them again on 45 Years," noted Goligher.