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.
