Any Bruno Dumont fans here? Here’s the (French only) trailer for his upcoming film, “The Empire.” It looks delightfully deranged, playing like a hybrid of sci-fi, slapstick and Dumont’s own “Quinquin.”
The film was ubiquitously absent from this year’s festivals. I heard it was offered the opening night slot at the Quinzaine, but refused the invite. It’s since been radio silence for the film.
What I’m hearing is that it’s probably going to premiere at Berlin in 2024 — A strange development for a film that was on the radar of many cinephiles at the beginning of the year.
“The Empire” revolves around two opposing forces from the depths of outer space, who unleash an apocalyptic conflict on Northern France’s picturesque Opal Coast.
Dumont’s had an eccentric and genre-hopping career ever since his 1997 debut “La Vie de Jésus”, other highlights in his filmography include “Humanité,” and “Li'l Quinquin.” His last film was 2021’s “France” which was a stinging satire on the media. I loved it.
Camille Cottin, Lyna Khoudri and Anamaria Vartolomei star in “The Empire.” Of note, actress Adèle Haenel had originally been offered a role, but she publicly stated that she dropped out of the film because the script was “full of jokes about cancel culture and sexual violence.”
Whatever problems Haenel might have had, the trailer intrigues — spaceships, lightsabers, burglars, asses. I’m sold.