Glenn Close, Kate Hudson for Le Divorce

Glenn Close features for the first time in an Ismail Merchant-James Ivory film, Le Divorce, which begins shooting in Paris next week. Last year's Oscar nominee Kate Hudson has a key role in the film that also stars Naomi Watts.

The $ 12.5 million film, partly financed by Fox Searchlight, is based on an international bestseller by Diane Johnson, also known for co-scripting Stanley Kubrick's Shining.

A comical tale with tragedy lurking in the corner, Le Divorce recounts the adventures of two sisters from California in Paris.

Pregnant and abandoned by her French husband, Roxeanne Walker de Persand turns to her younger sister, Isabel, for support, while her husband's family exerts subtle but firm control over her decision on divorce. Meanwhile, a painting in Roxeanne's possession is suddenly discovered to be worth millions. In the midst of complications, a crime of passion adds more drama and disruptions.

Watts plays the elder sister while Hudson is cast as her cynical younger sister who is visiting her from California. Close plays an American writer living in Paris; Modine will play the deranged spouse of the deserting husband's new lover.

"Merchant Ivory are once again making a film based on a popular and acclaimed book," said Merchant, adding that the film will be ready for major international film festivals next year.

A contemporary film by Merchant and Ivory standard, Le Divorce is set in the 1970s Paris. Many of the films produced by Merchant and directed by Ivory were set in late 19th or early 20th century. Merchant's directorial vehicle, Mystic Masseur, which is set for an early release, is based on a V S Naipaul novel and was made for $ 3 million. The movie provides a peek into the Indian immigrant community in Trinidad.

Le Divorce, which is scripted by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala who has collaborated with Merchant and Ivory for nearly 43 years, will be yet another bid by the filmmakers to regain the art house popularity their films enjoyed more than a decade ago. Howards End, based on a E M Forster novel, for instance, earned a respectable $ 60 million worldwide. The 1992 movie starred Anthony Hopkins, Vanessa Redgrave and Emma Thompson.

The last Merchant-Ivory-Jhabvala collaboration, The Golden Bowl, starring Uma Thurman and based on an acclaimed psychological novel by Henry James, made about $ 8 million. It cost $ 15 million. Miramax, the best-known distributor for art movies, dropped the film when the filmmakers refused to make cuts in their 134-minute long version.