NEW YORK, NY (September 1, 2021) – IFC Films announced today that they are acquiring North American rights to Paul Solet’s crime drama Clean, starring Academy Award-winner Adrien Brody, who developed and produced the film through his production company, Fable House. IFC Films will release the film in 2022.
A longtime passion project for Adrien Brody, who also acts as producer, co-writer, and composer, Clean is directed and co-written by Paul Solet. The film stars Brody, Glenn Fleshler, Richie Merritt, Ari Chandler-DuPont, Mykelti Williamson, RZA, Michelle Wilson, and John Bianco, and is produced by Daniel Sollinger and Adrien Brody alongside Paul Solet and Elliot Brody.
Grappling with the tragic loss of his daughter and haunted by nightmares from his own criminal past, Clean (Adrien Brody) attempts to live a quiet life of service, caring for his community as a sanitation worker and acting as a mentor to his young neighbor. When local gang violence puts his neighbor’s life in danger, it ignites a return to the violence and darkness that he has struggled to put behind him. Forced to reconcile with his past to save those he has grown to care for, Clean might very well save himself in the process.
Originally slated to bow at the canceled 2020 Tribeca Film Festival, Clean made its world premiere in the Spotlight section of this year’s festival, with Brody and Solet’s collaboration attracting notice from critics. In a review for Screen Anarchy, Andrew Mack wrote, “Brody and Solet give us a character who bears the emotional brunt of his past, his torment,” adding, “not content with just delivering a thriller that depends on excitement, they’ve made a compact vision of the ‘Man With a Past’ type thriller and given it more emotional heft than most of its predecessors combined”.
Arianna Bocco, President of IFC Films, said, “With thrilling neo-noir elements and a powerful redemptive arc, Clean has all the grit of a classic crime drama with real depth at its core, and it’s a truly collaborative vision from Paul Solet and Adrien Brody. We’re excited to be partnering with Paul and Adrien for the release of this film.”
“I couldn’t be more pleased that Clean has found a home at IFC Films. Arianna and her team have proven time and again their ability to successfully bring deep and nuanced material to an audience,” said Adrien Brody. “From script to screen, I’ve never been more involved in the creation of a film. I feel this labor of love is in the best hands possible, and I look forward to the next stage of the journey together.”
The deal for the film was negotiated by IFC Films President Arianna Bocco with CAA Media Finance acting on behalf of the filmmakers.
ABOUT IFC FILMS
Established in 2000 and based in New York City, IFC Films is a leading U.S. distributor of independent film. Its unique distribution model makes independent films available to a national audience by releasing them in theaters as well as on cable’s Video On Demand (VOD) and digital platforms.
Current releases include the critically acclaimed and record-breaking THE DRY starring Eric Bana and horror-comedy WEREWOLVES WITHIN directed by Josh Ruben (SCARE ME). Some of the company’s successes over the years have included BOYHOOD, THE DEATH OF STALIN, FRANCES HA, MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING, Y TU MAMA TAMBIEN, THE BABADOOK, TOUCHING THE VOID, 4 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS AND 2 DAYS, CHE, SUMMER HOURS, ANTICHRIST, IN THE LOOP, JOAN RIVERS: A PIECE OF WORK, TINY FURNITURE, and CARLOS. IFC Films has worked with established and breakout filmmakers, including Steven Soderbergh, Gus Van Sant, Spike Lee, Richard Linklater, Miranda July, Lars Von Trier, Gaspar Noé, Todd Solondz, Cristian Mungiu, Susanne Bier, Olivier Assayas, Jim McKay, Larry Fessenden, Paul Dano, Gregg Araki, Jacques Rivette, Claude Chabrol, Abdellatif Kechiche, Kore-eda Hirokazu, Abbas Kiarostami, Alfonso Cuaron, Noah Baumbach, Lena Dunham, Ethan Hawke and many more. IFC Films is a sister label to IFC Midnight, and is owned and operated by AMC Networks Inc.