L'empire

In a small village on the Côte d’Opale, the arrival of a newborn causes trouble in the galaxy. The imperial forces of the heinous Beelzebub (Fabrice Luchini) land on earth to forcibly take the child, who is prophesied an extraordinary fate. But the queens (Camille Cottin) envoys attempt to stop this. Under the apathetic lens of two bumbling french police officers, northern France becomes the center of a war of galactic proportions… An apocalyptic frenzy between social realism and burlesque space opera. THE EMPIRE (original title: L’Empire) is the latest film by Bruno Dumont, who is known for his uncompromising works. Here, he combines elements of space opera with his typical, often provocative style. Between absurd situations, laconic humor, and brutal images, a narrative unfolds that is both entertaining and unsettling. Dumont is supported by an ensemble of well-known French actors who lend the bizarre characters a haunting presence. THE EMPIRE celebrated its world premiere in 2024 in competition at the Berlin International Film Festival. There, the film received the Silver Bear – Jury Prize, one of the festival's highest honors. This award made it clear that Dumont's mixture of genre experiment and social commentary was worth receiving international attention. With its presence at the Berlinale and the prestigious award, the film was able to establish itself as an extraordinary contribution to European auteur cinema.