Radu Jude’s ‘The Diary of a Chambermaid’ Secures U.S. Distribution

Film Movement has acquired U.S. rights to Radu Jude’s “The Diary of a Chambermaid,” the Romanian filmmaker’s first French-language feature, following its world premiere in Cannes Directors’ Fortnight.

The deal was announced by Film Movement president Michael Rosenberg and Kevin Chneiweiss of Paris-based SBS International.

Produced by Saïd Ben Saïd of SBS Productions, the film will next make its North American premiere at Toronto before heading to the New York Film Festival for its U.S. premiere.

Film Movement plans a U.S. theatrical release followed by VOD, digital and home entertainment.

“The Diary of a Chambermaid” marked Jude’s 12th feature in 11 years. The prolific Romanian filmmaker, whose recent credits include “Kontinental ’25” and “Do Not Expect Too Much from the End of the World,” competed for both the Golden Bear in Berlin and the Golden Leopard in Locarno in 2025.

“The Diary of a Chambermaid” is an adaptation of Octave Mirbeau’s novel which was previously adapted for the screen by Jean Renoir, Luis Buñuel and Benoît Jacquot.

Ana Dumitrașcu stars as Gianina, a young Romanian woman working as a housekeeper and au pair for a wealthy Bordeaux couple, Pierre and Marguerite, played by Vincent Macaigne and Mélanie Thierry. While cleaning their home and caring for their young son, Gianina counts down the days until she can return to Romania for Christmas and reunite with her own daughter. At the same time, she rehearses for a local stage adaptation of Mirbeau’s novel — the production that inspired Jude’s film — while navigating the seemingly benevolent condescension of her employers.

“Radu Jude is one of the most vital and inventive voices in contemporary cinema, and ‘The Diary of a Chambermaid’ finds him at his most tender without losing an ounce of his bite,” Rosenberg said. “In recasting Mirbeau’s novel through the eyes of a Romanian migrant worker in contemporary France, Jude’s film is both a sharp piece of social observation and a deeply moving story about a mother’s love for her daughter. We’re thrilled to introduce audiences to his first French-language feature and Cannes debut.”

The acquisition expands Film Movement’s recent slate, which also includes Orian Barki and Meriem Bennani’s animated drama “Bouchra,” a selection of TIFF and NYFF; Stillz’s Venice Orizzonti title “Barrio Triste”; Chie Hayakawa’s Cannes competition film “Renoir”; and Dominik Moll’s upcoming “Case 137.”