The Beast

Australian premiere

“It’s a big swing for the fences from the singular French filmmaker and one that absolutely pays off.” — Little White Lies

In the near future where artificial intelligence reigns supreme and human emotions have become a threat, Gabrielle (Léa Seydoux) finally decides to purify her DNA. She enters a machine that will immerse her in her previous lives and rid her of any strong feelings. In doing so, she reunites with Louis (George Mackay), her great love, but she’s overcome by fear and a premonition that a great catastrophe is on the way. This unknowable dread follows her, permeating multiple encounters with the man she knew as Louis over the years.

Loosely based on Henry James’ novel The Beast in the Jungle and set over three timelines, the distant past, the present, and the not-too-distant future, Bertrand Bonello’s liberal adaptation is a spellbinding and ambitious genre-defying love story that delves into the realms of fate and destiny, offering unexpected narrative twists that culminate in an exhilarating, heady cinematic journey.

Official Selection at the Venice International Film Festival