A daring adaptation of Henry James' novel with a sci-fi hint as magnetic as its performers.
In a near future dominated by artificial intelligence, human emotions have been deemed a threat. In order to purge hers and purify her DNA, Gabrielle must navigate her past lives to try to isolate the lingering pangs. There she finds Louis, her great love. But a terrible feeling invades her, a premonition that a catastrophe is coming.
The Beast then travels through three time periods, 1914, 2014 and 2044, moving from the Belle Epoque to the future, from Paris to Los Angeles, brilliantly combining romantic drama, science fiction and strangeness similar to Lynch identity.
A brilliantly orchestrated work of art, centred on otherworldly performances by Léa Seydoux, whose talent is brought to life by the camera, and George McKay a British actor embodied with many capacities of play.
Bertrand Bonello has created an ambitious and magnetic masterpiece; presented in competition at La Biennale de Venice, adapted from Henry James’s novel “The Beast in the Jungle”.
Bertrand Bonello was born in Nice in 1968. He alternates between music and cinema. In 1996, he directed an original documentary, “Qui je suis”, based on the work of Pier Paolo Pasolini.
His first feature film, “Quelque chose d’organique” (1998), was presented at the Berlinale (Panorama). “Le pornographe” (2001), starring Jean-Pierre Léaud, was invited to Critics’ Week in Cannes and won the FIPRESCI prize. In 2003, “Tiresia” was selected in Competition at the Cannes Festival. La Quinzaine des réalisateurs screened “De la guerreé in 2008. éL’Apollonide – Souvenirs de la maison closeé (2011) was in competition at the Cannes Festival and has been selected in eight categories at César. “Saint Laurent” (2014), also in competition at Cannes, represented France at the Oscars and received ten César nominations.
That same year, Bertrand Bonello organised an exhibition at the Centre Pompidou and released an album, Accidents. He continues to direct short films and music: “Cindy, the Doll” is Mine (2005), in Official Selection at Cannes, “My New Picture” (2007), “Where the Boys Are” (2010), “Ingrid Caven, musique et voix” (2012), all presented at Locarno; “Sarah Winchester, opéra fantôme” (2016), created for the 3rd stage of the Paris Opera.
“Nocturama”, his seventh feature film, was released in 2016. In 2019, “Zombi Child” was selected at La Quinzaine des réalisateurs. “Coma” was presented in competition at the Berlinale in 2022 (Encounters selection). It was awarded the FIPRESCI prize.
