Film tribute to French actress

Marie Trintignant had been filming in Lithuania

French actress Marie Trintignant's last movie will be completed by her mother, who is also the film's director.

Ms Trintignant died on Friday after suffering repeated blows to the head five days earlier, a French judicial official said.

Her boyfriend, Bertrand Cantat, lead singer with rock band Noir Desir, is being detained by police in Lithuania on suspicion of beating her following a row.

Ms Trintignant had been nearing the end of two months' filming in the capital, Vilnius.

She had been playing the lead role in a television movie of the life of French author Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette.

Nadine Trintignant (right) covered her daughter's face as she was moved

"The scenes which haven't been filmed are not essential," said Jerome Minet, head of production company Studio International.

The late actress' mother, Nadine, was determined to finish the film, he said.

"Nadine Trintignant wants it to be this way, in memory of her daughter and of their shared project based on the life of Colette, which they wrote and filmed."

Marie Trintignant, 41, was the daughter of French film veteran Jean-Louis Trintignant and was one of France's most popular home-grown film stars.

Mr Cantat appeared in court looking pale and dejected

She notched up five acting nominations for the Cesars - France's main film awards - over 10 years.

She also recently filmed a part as Janis Joplin in Janis et John, opposite The Highlander star Christopher Lambert as John Lennon.

Mr Cantat's Lithuanian lawyer, Virginijus Papirtis, said the singer insisted the death had been "an unhappy accident".

Mr Cantat, 39, has been remanded in custody in Lithuania until 14 August and is expected to be extradited to France.