Last Updated on 13 July 2025 by frenchflicks
The film, featuring Camille Cottin and Fabrice Luchini, is a satirical space opera that intertwines cosmic battles with the everyday life of a Northern French fishing village.
French auteur Bruno Dumont’s latest film, “The Empire” (“L’Empire”), is set to make its U.S. debut in March, following its acquisition by distributor Kino Lorber. Blending sci-fi spectacle with Bruno Dumont’s signature absurdist humor, The Empire transforms this sleepy village into the battleground for an interstellar showdown.
Synopsis
In the quiet fishing village of Côte d’Opale, an extraordinary event shatters the peaceful routine—Line (Lyna Khoudri) gives birth to a child unlike any other, marking the beginning of a secret cosmic war. Hidden among the villagers, two opposing alien forces, the benevolent Ones and the malevolent Zeros, battle for control over humanity’s fate.
As dark forces infiltrate the town, possessed villagers like Jony (Brandon Vlieghe) and Rudy (Julien Manier) unknowingly become pawns in the war. Meanwhile, Jane (Anamaria Vartolomei) and the mysterious Queen (Camille Cottin) hold the key to the unfolding intergalactic struggle. Overseeing the chaos is the enigmatic Belzébuth (Fabrice Luchini), a figure with his own cryptic agenda.
What did critics think of The Empire
Premiering at the 74th Berlin International Film Festival on February 18, 2024, “The Empire” was honored with the Silver Bear Jury Prize. French critics have lauded the film for its inventive parody of the science fiction genre, particularly its satirical nods to franchises like “Star Wars.” Cineuropa praised it as a “hilarious parody” enriched by “wonderfully executed special effects,” blending cosmic narratives with earthly irony.
Trailer For The Empire
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