A jovial, randy academic in his 50s (Remy Girard) is dying of cancer. His estranged son (Stephane Rousseau) has returned from abroad to take care of him, and his close friends gather to say farewell.

CANNES — Miramax Films has acquired U.S. distribution rights to “The Barbarian Invasions,” a French-language tragicomedy from Montreal-based filmmaker Denys Arcand. Pricetag was said to be about $1.5 ...