International Art House Series
Punctuated by a career-defining, three-role performance by Léa Seydoux, The Beast poignantly conveys humanity’s struggle against dissociative identity and emotionless existence.
The year is 2044: artificial intelligence controls all facets of a stoic society as humans routinely “erase” their feelings. Hoping to eliminate pain caused by their past-life romances, Gabrielle (Léa Seydoux) continually falls in love with different incarnations of Louis (George MacKay). Set first in Belle Époque-era Paris, Louis is a British man who woos her away from a cold husband; then in early 21st-century Los Angeles, he is a disturbed American bent on delivering violent “retribution.” Will the process allow Gabrielle to fully connect with Louis in the present, or are the two doomed to repeat their previous fates? Visually audacious director Bertrand Bonello fashions his most accomplished film to date: a sci-fi epic, inspired by Henry James' turn- of-the-century novella, The Beast in the Jungle, suffused with mounting dread and a haunting sense of mystery. [146 min; drama, romance, sci-fi, thriller; French with English subtitles]
This screening is supported by the IU Institute for European Studies, a Jean Monnet EU Centre of Excellence.
"Bonello’s not here to tell us that the only thing to fear is fear itself. He’s here to tell us to be afraid—be very afraid. What he delivers is not just a densely packed art movie but the most potent horror picture of the decade so far." — Glenn Kenny, RogerEbert.com
"Bertrand Bonello’s The Beast is a glorious and twisted century-spanning romance that is a playful, absurd, and utterly terrifying indictment on historical and modern societal issues." — June Butler, Film Ireland Magazine
"The Beast is a monster of a movie, one that will sink its claws into you, then ask you to contemplate the wounds it leaves. It’s not an easy watch, but it is a deeply rewarding one that you’ll be thinking about for days." — Matthew Jackson, The A.V. Club
Any film screened at IU Cinema may contain content that viewers find sensitive or upsetting. Visit our Audience Advisories page to learn more.
