The Empire (film)

{{Infobox film

| name = The Empire

| image = L'Empire 2024 film poster.jpg

| alt =

| caption = Theatrical release poster

| native_name = {{Infobox name module|fr|L'Empire}}

| director = Bruno Dumont

| writer = Bruno Dumont

| producer = {{plainlist|

Jean Bréhat
Bertrand Faivre

}}

| starring = {{plainlist|

}}

| cinematography = David Chambille

| editing =

| music =

| studio = {{plainlist|

Tessalit Productions
Red Balloon Film
Ascent Film
Novak Prod
Rosa Filmes
Furyo Films
Shelter Prod
RTBF

}}

| distributor =

| released = {{Film date|df=yes|2024|2|18|Berlin|2024|2|21|France}}

| runtime = 111 minutes{{cite web|url=https://www.arpselection.com/film/lempire/|title=L'EMPIRE|publisher=ARP Sélection|language=fr|access-date=26 January 2024}}

| country = {{plainlist|

France
Germany
Italy
Belgium
Portugal

}}

| language = French

| budget = €7,990,000{{cite web |url=https://scriptoclap.fr/oeuvres/lempire/ |title=L'Empire |website=Scriptoclap |language=French}}

| gross = €693,000{{Efn|Estimated on the basis of the number of tickets sold in France}}{{Cite web |title=L'Empire de Bruno Dumont (2023) |url=https://www.unifrance.org/film/56080/l-empire |url-access=subscription |access-date=22 June 2024 |publisher=Unifrance |language=fr}}

}}

The Empire ({{Langx|fr|L'Empire|links=yes}}) is a 2024 apocalyptic science fiction comedy-drama film written and directed by Bruno Dumont. It is a parody of the Star Wars franchise and Hollywood blockbusters in general, set in Dumont's home region of northern France.{{cite news|last=Dupire|first=Vincent|date=22 September 2023|title="L'Empire" le nouveau film de Bruno Dumont, parodie la Guerre des étoiles sur la côte d'Opale|url=https://france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr/hauts-de-france/pas-calais/l-empire-le-nouveau-film-de-bruno-dumont-parodie-la-guerre-des-etoiles-sur-la-cote-d-opale-2844317.html|work=France 3 Régions|publisher=francetvinfo.fr|language=fr|access-date=26 January 2024}}

The international co-production between France, Germany, Italy, Belgium and Portugal premiered on 18 February 2024 at the 74th Berlin International Film Festival, where it won the Silver Bear Jury Prize. It was theatrically released in France on 21 February 2024.

Premise

"Two opposing forces from the depths of outer space unleash an apocalyptic conflict on Northern France's picturesque Côte d'Opale."

Cast

Lyna Khoudri as Line
Anamaria Vartolomei as Jane
Camille Cottin as The Queen
Fabrice Luchini as Belzébuth
Brandon Vlieghe as Jony
Julien Manier as Rudy
Bernard Pruvost as Van der Weyden
Philippe Jore as Carpentier

Production

=Development and casting=

In January 2022, Bruno Dumont was announced to be preparing a new film entitled L'Empire, which would feature actresses Virginie Efira and Adèle Haenel. Haenel was described as making "her comeback to the cinema", following a controversy at the 45th César Awards after which she stepped away from film.{{cite news|last=Lachasse|first=Jérôme|date=22 January 2022|title=Adèle Haenel va faire son grand retour au cinéma|url=https://www.bfmtv.com/people/cinema/adele-haenel-va-faire-son-grand-retour-au-cinema_AN-202201220081.html|work=BFMTV|language=fr|access-date=27 January 2024}} Lily-Rose Depp and Fabrice Luchini, as well as Bernard Pruvost, Philippe Jore and Julien Manier, were also announced as cast members. The film was teased as a confounding mélange of science fiction and social realism set in Dumont's home region of northern France.{{cite web|url=https://www.cineserie.com/news/cinema/lempire-le-prochain-film-de-bruno-dumont-a-un-casting-royal-et-un-pitch-incroyable-4848629/|title=L'Empire : le prochain film de Bruno Dumont a un casting royal et un pitch incroyable|last=Garreau|first=Marc-Aurèle|date=21 January 2022|website=CinéSérie|language=fr|access-date=27 January 2024}}{{cite magazine|last=Schütz|first=Violaine|date=25 January 2022|title=Quel film réunira Virginie Efira, Lily-Rose Depp et Adèle Haenel ?|url=https://www.numero.com/fr/cinema/bruno-dumont-virginie-efira-lily-rose-depp-adele-haenel|magazine=Numéro|language=fr|access-date=27 January 2024}} Bernard Pruvost once again appears as Commandant Van der Weyden, and Philippe Jore, as Lieutenant Rudy Carpentier, characters who originally appeared in the miniseries P'tit Quinquin (2014), also created by Dumont.{{cite news|last=Faucquez|first=Grégory|date=12 April 2022|title=Le calaisien Bernard Pruvost et Lily-Rose Depp dans le même film : c'est quoi c'bordel ?|url=https://www.nordlittoral.fr/141673/article/2022-04-12/le-calaisien-bernard-pruvost-et-lily-rose-depp-dans-le-meme-film-c-est-quoi-c|newspaper=Nord Littoral|language=fr|access-date=27 January 2024}} At the end of April 2022, Camille Cottin and Anamaria Vartolomei joined the cast.{{cite magazine|last=Goodfellow|first=Melanie|date=28 April 2022|title=Bruno Dumont's 'The Empire' to star Lily-Rose Depp, Anamaria Vartolomei, Camille Cottin; Memento International boards sales (exclusive)|url=https://www.screendaily.com/news/bruno-dumonts-the-empire-to-star-lily-rose-depp-anamaria-vartolomei-camille-cottin-memento-international-boards-sales-exclusive/5169947.article|magazine=Screen International|access-date=27 January 2024}} In May 2022, Adèle Haenel left the project due to disagreements with Bruno Dumont over the script, which she characterised as "dark, sexist and racist".{{cite magazine|last=Orozco|first=Édouard|date=17 May 2022|title=Adèle Haenel veut s'éloigner du cinéma : "C'est une industrie réactionnaire et raciste"|url=https://www.premiere.fr/Cinema/News-Cinema/Adele-Haenel-veut-seloigner-du-cinema-Cest-une-industrie-reactionnaire-et-raciste|magazine=Première|language=fr|access-date=27 January 2024}} In August 2022, Lily-Rose Depp and Virginie Efira were confirmed to have left the project due to "filming having changed dates several times" which ultimately conflicted with their schedules. They were replaced by Lyna Khoudri and Camille Cottin, as well as Anamaria Vartolomei who took the place of Adèle Haenel.{{cite news|last=Delfort|first=Julien|date=18 August 2022|title=Clash, changement d'agenda : le casting "flamboyant" de Bruno Dumont chamboulé|url=https://www.lavoixdunord.fr/1217853/article/2022-08-18/clash-changement-d-agenda-le-casting-flamboyant-de-bruno-dumont-chamboule|newspaper=La Voix du Nord|language=fr|access-date=27 January 2024}}

Jean Bréhat and Bertrand Faivre produced The Empire for Tessalit Productions. The film is co-produced by Red Balloon Film (Germany), Ascent Film (Italy), Novak Prod (Belgium), Rosa Filmes (Portugal) and Furyo Films (France).{{cite web|url=https://cineuropa.org/en/newsdetail/429095/|title=Bruno Dumont shoots The Empire|last=Lemercier|first=Fabien|date=24 August 2022|website=Cineuropa|access-date=26 January 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.furyofilms.com/film-page/lempire|title=L'Empire|publisher=Furyo Films|language=fr|access-date=26 January 2024}}

=Filming=

Principal photography began on 16 August 2022 in Wimereux (Pas-de-Calais), located in France's Côte d'Opale region, where the production was set up on the Dunes de la Slack beach, stretching between Pointe aux Oies and Fort d'Ambleteuse. Boulonnais horses and drones were used on this day. Filming, which took place primarily in Audresselles, continued until 10 September. Scenes were also filmed on 13 August on board a boat off the coast of Audresselles.{{cite news|last=Delfort|first=Julien|date=16 August 2022|title=Cinéma : des scènes du film L'Empire tournées ce mardi à Wimereux|url=https://www.lavoixdunord.fr/1217075/article/2022-08-16/cinema-des-scenes-du-film-l-empire-tournees-ce-mardi-wimereux|url-status=live|newspaper=La Voix du Nord|language=fr|archive-url=https://archive.today/20240126211147/https://www.lavoixdunord.fr/1217075/article/2022-08-16/cinema-des-scenes-du-film-l-empire-tournees-ce-mardi-wimereux|archive-date=26 January 2024|access-date=27 January 2024|url-access=subscription}} Filming resumed for a few days in late September in Brussels, then from 3 to 10 October in Caserta, with a final shooting day scheduled for October or November in Berlin.

Release

File:Anamaria Vartolomei, Brandon Vlieghe and Lyna Khoudri at Berlinale 2024.jpg

The Empire premiered on 18 February 2024 at the 74th Berlin International Film Festival,{{cite web|url=https://www.berlinale.de/en/2024/programme/202408944.html|title=L'Empire|website=Berlinale|access-date=15 February 2024|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240215233020/https://www.berlinale.de/en/2024/programme/202408944.html|archive-date=15 February 2024}} where the film was selected in the main competition for the Golden Bear.{{cite web|url=https://cineuropa.org/en/newsdetail/455195|title=The Berlinale unveils its Competition and Encounters titles|last=Abbatescianni|first=Davide|date=22 January 2024|website=Cineuropa|access-date=26 January 2024}}

ARP Sélection distributed the film in France on 21 February 2024.{{cite magazine|last=Sauvion|first=Marie|date=9 January 2024|title="L'Empire" : comment promouvoir le "Star Wars" du ch'Nord signé Bruno Dumont|url=https://www.telerama.fr/cinema/l-empire-de-bruno-dumont-un-star-wars-du-ch-nord-7018799.php|url-access=subscription|magazine=Télérama|language=fr|access-date=26 January 2024}} World sales are handled by Memento International, who presented the film for sale at the Marché du Film of Cannes in May 2023.{{cite web|url=https://cineuropa.org/en/newsdetail/442021|title=Memento International to present a highly promising trio in Cannes|last=Lemercier|first=Fabien|date=9 May 2023|website=Cineuropa|access-date=27 January 2024}} In March 2024, it was announced that the film had been acquired by Kino Lorber for North America, with a theatrical release set for later in 2024.{{cite magazine|last=Roxborough|first=Scott|date=7 March 2024|title=Kino Lorber Takes French Sci-Fi Satire 'L'Empire' for North America|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/kino-lorber-l-empire-north-america-1235845554/|magazine=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=29 June 2024}}

Reception

File:MKr354359 Bruno Dumont (Preis der Jury, Berlinale 2024).jpg

=Critical response=

{{Rotten Tomatoes prose|62|5.2|13||ref=yes|access-date=17 September 2024}}

{{Metacritic film prose|53|4|ref=yes|access-date=17 September 2024}} On AlloCiné, the film received an average rating of 3.6 out of 5 stars, based on 24 reviews from French critics.{{cite web|url=https://www.allocine.fr/film/fichefilm-298872/critiques/presse/|title=Critiques Presse pour le film L'Empire|website=AlloCiné|language=fr|access-date=12 April 2024}}

=Accolades=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" ! scope="col" \| Award ! scope="col" \| Date of ceremony ! scope="col" \| Category ! scope="col" \| Recipient(s) ! scope="col" \| Result ! scope="col" class="unsortable" \| {{Ref heading}}
rowspan="2" scope="row" \| Berlin International Film Festival \| rowspan="2" \| 25 February 2024 \| Golden Bear \| rowspan="3" \| Bruno Dumont \| {{nom}} \| align="center" \| {{cite magazine\|last1=Vivarelli\|first1=Nick\|last2=Shafer\|first2=Ellise\|date=22 January 2024\|title=Berlin Film Festival Unveils Full Lineup: 'La Cocina' Starring Rooney Mara, 'Another End' With Gael García Bernal Among Competition Titles\|url=https://variety.com/2024/film/festivals/berlin-film-festival-lineup-2024-1235868598/\|magazine=Variety\|access-date=26 January 2024}}
Silver Bear Jury Prize \| {{won}} \| align="center" \| {{Cite web \|title=The Prizes of the International Jury \|url=https://www.berlinale.de/en/festival/awards-and-juries/international-jury.html \|access-date=30 March 2024 \|website=www.berlinale.de \|language=en}}
scope="row" \| Gijón International Film Festival \| 23 November 2024 \| Albar Competition – Best Feature Film \| {{nom}} \|{{Cite web \|last=Rivera \|first=Alfonso \|date=21 October 2024 \|title=Established and emerging filmmakers to meet at Gijón International Film Festival \|url=https://cineuropa.org/en/newsdetail/468884/ \|access-date=30 January 2025 \|website=Cineuropa}}

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"

! scope="col" | Award

! scope="col" | Date of ceremony

! scope="col" | Category

! scope="col" | Recipient(s)

! scope="col" | Result

! scope="col" class="unsortable" | {{Ref heading}}

rowspan="2" scope="row" | Berlin International Film Festival

| rowspan="2" | 25 February 2024

| Golden Bear

| rowspan="3" | Bruno Dumont

| {{nom}}

| align="center" | {{cite magazine|last1=Vivarelli|first1=Nick|last2=Shafer|first2=Ellise|date=22 January 2024|title=Berlin Film Festival Unveils Full Lineup: 'La Cocina' Starring Rooney Mara, 'Another End' With Gael García Bernal Among Competition Titles|url=https://variety.com/2024/film/festivals/berlin-film-festival-lineup-2024-1235868598/|magazine=Variety|access-date=26 January 2024}}

Silver Bear Jury Prize

| {{won}}

| align="center" | {{Cite web |title=The Prizes of the International Jury |url=https://www.berlinale.de/en/festival/awards-and-juries/international-jury.html |access-date=30 March 2024 |website=www.berlinale.de |language=en}}

scope="row" | Gijón International Film Festival

| 23 November 2024

| Albar Competition – Best Feature Film

| {{nom}}

|{{Cite web |last=Rivera |first=Alfonso |date=21 October 2024 |title=Established and emerging filmmakers to meet at Gijón International Film Festival |url=https://cineuropa.org/en/newsdetail/468884/ |access-date=30 January 2025 |website=Cineuropa}}