The U.S. trailer for Bruno Dumont’s The Empire Reveals an Unconventional Sci-Fi Epic

      A year after its debut at the Berlinale, where it received the Silver Bear Jury Prize, Bruno Dumont’s sci-fi film The Empire is finally making its way to the U.S. Kino Lorber has acquired the film and plans to release it on March 7. They have recently revealed a new trailer and poster, featuring Lyna Khoudri, Anamaria Vartolomei, Camille Cottin, and Fabrice Luchini.

      Here’s the synopsis: “In a serene and picturesque fishing village in Northern France, a remarkably unique child is born, triggering a secret conflict between alien forces of good and evil. In an effort to reclaim their dominions, two rival factions from outer space, One and Zero, spark an apocalyptic war on Earth. The sinister Zero faction covertly inhabits the bodies of local villagers to incite chaos. Meanwhile, a new species created by One strives for a new, peaceful evolution. As they await the ultimate confrontation, the imperial armies work to win over humanity to their side. Featuring performances from Fabrice Luchini, Camille Cottin, and Anamaria Vartolomei, THE EMPIRE combines elements of Star Wars and Spaceballs while remaining distinctly Dumont.”

      Rory O’Connor noted in his review, “Presenting his signature style of rural French absurdity in sharp contrast to the grand themes of a space opera, Bruno Dumont returns with The Empire: his own take on Barbarella, his dijionnaise version of Dune. The Empire tells the tale of two clashing factions: one whose mothership resembles the Palace of Versailles and the other’s appears as though two Notre Dames are fused together, crypt to crypt. It follows their envoys on Earth, now in human guise, as they attempt to apprehend a toddler they believe to be the Chosen One––whose mere presence forces them to bow like lifeless bodies. The narrative includes indifferent beheadings with lightsabers, a group of men on Boulonnais horses who call themselves the Knights of Wain, and, inexplicably, the commandant (Bernard Pruvost) and lieutenant (Philippe Jore) from P’tit Quinquin.”

      Check out the trailer below.