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Science FictionComedyDrama

The Empire

- Cosmic convergence.

In a quiet fishing village on northern France's Opal Coast, the birth of a peculiar child sparks a hidden war between extraterrestrial forces of good and evil.

Release Date : 2024-02-21

Language :French

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Tessalit ProductionsRed Balloon FilmAscent FilmNovak ProdRosa FilmesFuryo Films

Production Country : BelgiumFranceGermanyItalyPortugal

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Lyna Khoudri

Character Name : Line

Original Name : Lyna Khoudri

Gender : Female

Anamaria Vartolomei

Character Name : Jane

Original Name : Anamaria Vartolomei

Gender : Female

Camille Cottin

Character Name : La Reine

Original Name : Camille Cottin

Gender : Female

Fabrice Luchini

Character Name : Belzébuth

Original Name : Fabrice Luchini

Gender : Male

Brandon Vlieghe

Character Name : Jony

Original Name : Brandon Vlieghe

Gender : Male

Julien Manier

Character Name : Rudy

Original Name : Julien Manier

Gender : Male

Bernard Pruvost

Character Name : Van der Weyden

Original Name : Bernard Pruvost

Gender : Male

Philippe Jore

Character Name : Carpentier

Original Name : Philippe Jore

Gender : Male

Annie Tardivon

Character Name : Mère de Jony

Original Name : Annie Tardivon

Gender : Male

Marie Vasez

Character Name : Lou

Original Name : Marie Vasez

Gender : Male

Cédric Fortin

Character Name : Roland Deroo

Original Name : Cédric Fortin

Gender : Male

Annick Lefevre

Character Name : Gisèle, mère de Rudy

Original Name : Annick Lefevre

Gender : Male

Tony Devanne

Character Name : Ami Rudy #1 éberlué

Original Name : Tony Devanne

Gender : Male

Giovanny Dupetit

Character Name : Ami Rudy #2 (en larmes)

Original Name : Giovanny Dupetit

Gender : Male

Giovanni Boutillier

Character Name : Ami Rudy #3 (malin)

Original Name : Giovanni Boutillier

Gender : Male

Olivier Delattaignant

Character Name : Gros baigneur décapité

Original Name : Olivier Delattaignant

Gender : Male

Bruno Darras

Character Name : Gendarme #1

Original Name : Bruno Darras

Gender : Male

Gino Evrard

Character Name : Gendarme #2

Original Name : Gino Evrard

Gender : Male

Annick Bultel

Character Name : Dame course Deroo

Original Name : Annick Bultel

Gender : Male

Natacha Oliviera Da Costa

Character Name : Journaliste

Original Name : Natacha Oliviera Da Costa

Gender : Male

Marie Lodyga

Character Name : Doublure corps Line

Original Name : Marie Lodyga

Gender : Male

Florian Dausque

Character Name : Chevalier

Original Name : Florian Dausque

Gender : Male

Frédéric Castagno

Character Name : Chevalier

Original Name : Frédéric Castagno

Gender : Male

Pascal Legrand

Character Name : Chevalier

Original Name : Pascal Legrand

Gender : Male

Isabelle Billion

Character Name : Chevalier

Original Name : Isabelle Billion

Gender : Male

Amandine Fricker

Character Name : Chevalier

Original Name : Amandine Fricker

Gender : Male

Patrick Dupont

Character Name : Chevalier

Original Name : Patrick Dupont

Gender : Male

Olivier Blon

Character Name : Chevalier

Original Name : Olivier Blon

Gender : Male

Etienne Spire

Character Name : Chevalier

Original Name : Etienne Spire

Gender : Male

Tanguy Ducamps

Character Name : Chevalier

Original Name : Tanguy Ducamps

Gender : Male

Florence Caudron

Character Name : Chevalier

Original Name : Florence Caudron

Gender : Male

Antoine Caulliez

Character Name : Chevalier

Original Name : Antoine Caulliez

Gender : Male

Amandine Breton

Character Name : Chevalier

Original Name : Amandine Breton

Gender : Male

Amélie Tanguy Buneville

Character Name : Chevalier

Original Name : Amélie Tanguy Buneville

Gender : Male

Isabelle Dupont

Character Name : Chevalier

Original Name : Isabelle Dupont

Gender : Male

Valérie Gratenoix

Character Name : Chevalier

Original Name : Valérie Gratenoix

Gender : Male

Sayan Burghgraeve

Character Name : Enfant

Original Name : Sayan Burghgraeve

Gender : Male

Célien Bruet

Character Name : Enfant

Original Name : Célien Bruet

Gender : Male

Melvin Fontaine

Character Name : Enfant

Original Name : Melvin Fontaine

Gender : Male

Tayron Oboeuf

Character Name : Enfant

Original Name : Tayron Oboeuf

Gender : Male

Mathys Duchilier

Character Name : Enfant

Original Name : Mathys Duchilier

Gender : Male

Owen Hulin

Character Name : Enfant

Original Name : Owen Hulin

Gender : Male

Aron Fontaine

Character Name : Enfant

Original Name : Aron Fontaine

Gender : Male

Devann Lefèvre

Character Name : Enfant

Original Name : Devann Lefèvre

Gender : Male

Marco Fiorenzano

Character Name : Danseur / musicien

Original Name : Marco Fiorenzano

Gender : Male

Gianluigi Pennino

Character Name : Danseur / musicien

Original Name : Gianluigi Pennino

Gender : Male

Emiliano Barrella

Character Name : Danseur / musicien

Original Name : Emiliano Barrella

Gender : Male

Orazio Cristiano

Character Name : Danseur / musicien

Original Name : Orazio Cristiano

Gender : Male

Andrea Iovino

Character Name : Danseur / musicien

Original Name : Andrea Iovino

Gender : Male

Luigi Fiorentino

Character Name : Danseur / musicien

Original Name : Luigi Fiorentino

Gender : Male

Giuseppe Messere

Character Name : Danseur / musicien

Original Name : Giuseppe Messere

Gender : Male

Martinica Ferrara Strova

Character Name : Danseur / musicien

Original Name : Martinica Ferrara Strova

Gender : Male

Nicole Barbieri

Character Name : Danseur / musicien

Original Name : Nicole Barbieri

Gender : Male

Raffaella Gianfrano

Character Name : Danseur / musicien

Original Name : Raffaella Gianfrano

Gender : Male

Paolo Ladisa

Character Name : Danseur / musicien

Original Name : Paolo Ladisa

Gender : Male

Claudio Ladisa

Character Name : Danseur / musicien

Original Name : Claudio Ladisa

Gender : Male

Giovanni Iovino

Character Name : Danseur / musicien

Original Name : Giovanni Iovino

Gender : Male

Iolanda Crispino

Character Name : Danseur / musicien

Original Name : Iolanda Crispino

Gender : Male

Elisabetta La Padula

Character Name : Danseur / musicien

Original Name : Elisabetta La Padula

Gender : Male

Marcello Giuliano

Character Name : Danseur / musicien

Original Name : Marcello Giuliano

Gender : Male

Gerardo Orazzo

Character Name : Danseur / musicien

Original Name : Gerardo Orazzo

Gender : Male

Fabiana Esca

Character Name : Danseur / musicien

Original Name : Fabiana Esca

Gender : Male

Laura Arcudi

Character Name : Danseur / musicien

Original Name : Laura Arcudi

Gender : Male

Reviews

B

Brent Marchant

@Brent_Marchant

2025-05-15

When a film seeks to tackle such distinctive comedic forms as parody, satire or slapstick, the creators first need to make sure that what they’re hatching truly works. But, in the case of this latest offering from storied auteur Bruno Dumont, the mark is missed by a wide margin. This alleged take-off on classic space operas like the original “Star Wars” trilogy or “Spaceballs” (1987) simply doesn’t cut it, primarily because it just isn’t funny. Perhaps that’s due to the fact that the filmmaker doesn’t seem to be clear on the direction he wants the story to take or the tone with which it’s presented. In a nutshell, two alien species – the Ones (champions of good) and Zeroes (disciples of evil) – have been exiled to Earth (why and by whom is never made clear), where they’re battling one another to win over the control of humanity through their ground zero strongholds in a small French coastal fishing village. But, in telling this tale, Dumont’s paper-thin narrative meanders aimlessly, blending a bland mixture of lame humor (most of which falls positively flat), bombastic but innately shallow soliloquies on the nature of good and evil, unexplained Monty Python-esque absurdist imagery, and gratuitous sexual encounters that appear to be thrown in for little more than titillating filler. To its credit, the picture effectively employs some truly impressive special effects, an eclectic background score based largely on reworked neo-classical arrangements of the compositions of J.S. Bach and Henry Purcell, and a production design that incorporates set designs drawn from Gothic and Renaissance European architecture. It also features a wealth of stunningly gorgeous cinematography, although a number of overlong shots (particularly many inexplicably filmed from too great a distance) could benefit from judicious pruning. So what exactly is the director going for here? Damned if I know. If it’s satire, its symbology is seriously undercooked. If it’s a campy romp, it’s too understated. If it’s screwball comedy, the pacing is too sluggish. And if it’s insightful social commentary, it’s too superficial and doesn’t take itself seriously enough. In essence, “The Empire” may offer some segments that are nice to look at, but that’s about all, considering that the bulk of this release, in the end, really has nothing interesting, meaningful or piquant to say.