Watch: Julie Delpy Writes, Directs and Stars in Venice Premiere ‘Lolo’

Venice Days has slotted Julie Delpy‘s “Lolo” as the eleventh title in its competition lineup. This marks the world premiere of the comedy, before it heads to Toronto later in September. (Check out the first international trailer, sans subtitles, below.)

Co-written by Delpy and Eugénie Grandval, “Lolo” looks to be another one of her very French comedies of manners and errors, heated with anxiety and confusion and romantic fretting. The story surrounds who else but a neurotic Parisienne, Violette (Delpy), who falls for Jean-René while vacationing in the south of France. But the pair gets a major reality check once back home, where Violette’s tyrannical son Lolo attempts to manipulate and control the relationship.

READ MORE: Now and Then: Waiting for Julie Delpy

Delpy can write a good, smart farce, such as her 2012 sequel “2 Days in New York.” But I can’t help but miss the bubbly, frantically charming energy of the original, “2 Days in Paris,” which combined her witty sensibilities as a “Before Sunset” and “Midnight” co-scribe with an obvious admiration of Woody Allen. The clean, polished look of “Lolo” suggests this is not that.

Clearly, Venice wants a diverse lineup this year, with plenty of women, to avoid the sorts of criticisms levied upon Cannes, which opened this year with a French female-directed film. Another French femme auteur, Agnes Varda, will also be presenting new work at Venice.

Wild Bunch will handle international sales for “Lolo.”