Clocking in around two and a half hours this French film is long but fascinating and not readily understood with one viewing.
I am tempted to state it could be a great love story of a couple spanning three lifetimes but that is shattered Nagasaki style in the dying seconds of the movie. Alternatively, and perhaps too easily, it could be labelled as an “Alice in Wonderland”/”The Matrix” fantasy fuelled by that blue pill. Or it could be a warning on the dangers posed to humanity by artificial intelligence. I am leaning towards it being a combination of all three with healthy doses of mysticism and symbolism thrown in for good measure. My thoughts may be irrefutable as I watched the film twice! With the clarity of the double watch I may have understood the film much better but some of the mysticism and possible symbolism are not as mysterious as they initially were.
The film commences with Gabrielle Monnier (Léa Seydoux) a thirtyish pianist in 1901 Paris meeting Louis Lewanski (George Mackay). They meet again in 2014 and 2044 not consciously knowing they have met before. In 1901 they perished together by drowning. In 2014 Gabrielle may have died at the hands of Louis. In 2044 no one dies other than Gabrielle’s love for Louis. In the 1901 segment the wardrobe and cinematography is outstanding. Equally impressive are Seydoux and Mackay.
Gabrielle is haunted by premonitions of catastrophe and in all three time periods her premonition is correct. Through DNA purification in 2044 catastrophes and anxieties can be eliminated 99.3 % of the time. Gabrielle resists DNA purification initially frightened she will lose all feelings but is told by AI this is not the case as she will just feel them more “serenely”. You will have emotions but they will not bother you.
Gabrielle agrees to undergo DNA purification but it fails for reasons that will became apparent. Will it be equally apparent what The Beast is? Guess freely as there are so many here you can’t go wrong.
Very trippy. This is a type of film you best watch at least twice. The first watch is a WTF watch! A “La Grande Bouffe” feast for the eyes and mind.
Directed by Betrand Bonello.
Canadian theatrical release on 19April2024 in Toronto and Vancouver.
RKS 2024 Film Rating 92/100.
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