Claire Denis advances female cannibal crime drama 'The Soap Maker'

Claire Denis is advancing with her cannibal-themed crime thriller "The Soap Maker," for which the French filmmaker will now both write and direct.

This endeavour, initially introduced in 2025 at Berlin’s EFM, has gained momentum with producers Sacha Ben Harroche (“Butterfly Jam”) and Ivy Freeman-Attwood (“The Dispute”) joining the film in Cannes. Lead producer Gerry Pass is also involved through his New York-based company, Chrome Entertainment. CAA is handling the packaging.

"The Soap Maker" is an English-language film that draws inspiration from the real-life tale of Italy’s Leonarda Cianciulli. In the late 1930s and early ’40s, Cianciulli murdered three women in the Italian town of Correggio, using chemicals to dispose of their bodies and crafting soaps, candles, biscuits, and cakes with the remains which she shared with local residents.

Italian director Mauro Bolognini took inspiration from this story to create his 1977 cult classic “Gran Bollito,” featuring Shelley Winters as the serial killer.

Claire Denis' project, however, is an entirely new creation, neither a remake nor an adaptation of that particular film.

Denis, known for her esteemed works such as “Beau Travail” (1999), “Trouble Every Day” (2001), “35 Rhums” (2009), “Both Sides of the Blade” (2022) which won the Berlin Silver Bear, and “Stars at Noon” which claimed the Cannes Grand Prix, recently directed “The Fence,” featuring Matt Dillon, Mia McKenna-Bruce, and Isaach De Bankolé. This film marked her return to colonial French Africa, where she spent her youth.

She is currently in the editing phase of a new film commissioned by Prada for their Miu Miu Women’s Tales short film series, set to debut at this year's Venice Film Festival in the Venice Days section.

In Cannes this year, Denis was honoured with the prestigious Golden Carriage (Carrosse d’Or) award by Directors’ Fortnight.

“The Soap Maker” is intended to be Denis’ forthcoming feature film.