Movie set in city brothel poised for major US release

IT could be the movie hit to rival Trainspotting - as long as it doesn't get lost in translation.

• Wayne Thallon and Andy Maas are hoping A Spanking in Paradise will be a big success Stateside

A low-budget black comedy set in the seedy world of an Edinburgh sauna has been snapped up by one of the world's biggest movie distributors for release in American cinemas.

And A Spanking in Paradise is set to have an added extra for US audiences - subtitles so they can understand what's being said.

The award-winning film, which premiered at last year's Edinburgh International Film Festival to rave reviews, tells the story of a newly graduated law student whose holiday job working for a relative means he is thrust into the bizarre and brutal world of the fictional Paradise Sauna.

It was filmed at various Edinburgh locations over three weeks in January last year, when the mostly city-based crew had to battle through snow and bad weather to shoot outdoor scenes in areas around Lochend, Granton and the Cowgate.

The movie, starring Glasgow-trained actor Andrew Hawley, was made with an initial budget of just 45,000, rising to 200,000 once filming had ended. Writer and director Wayne Thallon, producer Andy Maas, 30, and the crew created a set for the fictitious Paradise Sauna at Art's Complex in London Road.

For many of the crew, including Mr Thallon - who based the film around events in his own life - it was their first experience of making a full-length movie.

New York-based IFC Films moved to snap up the rights to distribute the film within hours of it scooping two awards at the 2010 film festival. It was also named "Best of the Fest", with the reward of a special screening to close the event.

However, the film will hit American cinema screens with subtitles to help US audiences follow the story.

"I don't think they'll struggle with the concept of brothels in saunas," said Mr Thallon, 35.

"They have Las Vegas and legalised brothels in the desert, so I think they'll 'get' the Edinburgh brothel structure.

"There will be some subtitles though to help them with the accents. The hope is the film becomes popular, particularly with Scots living in America."

The deal with IFC - which has only just been confirmed - will also see the movie available on pay-per-view American cable television network, Sundance, as well as being put up for download on iTunes, online movie channel NetFlix and Amazon.

After their success, plans are already being made for a sequel, to be shot in the Capital next year - this time with a possible big-name star attached to the cast.IFC Films is regarded as a key film distributor, with past successes including My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Fahrenheit 9/11 and last year's The Killer Inside Me.

The deal means the film now has the potential to challenge the success of Edinburgh-made movies Shallow Grave, Hallam Foe and Trainspotting.

"It's incredible that our modest film has been picked up by arguably the best film distributor in the world," Mr Thallon said.

"This is the first time a film made in Edinburgh by a mostly Edinburgh crew on this tiny budget has had a deal like this.

"It's been a massive team effort and everyone involved is delighted."