Genre: dark comedy, comedy | Country: France | Year: 2025 | Director: Quentin Dupieux | Language: French | Subtitles: Polish, English | Duration: 1 h 32 min | Age restriction: 16+ | World Premiere: Strasbourg
THE PIANO ACCIDENT
The new work of the king of absurdist cinema
Magalie is filthy rich and even filthier in personality. She has holed up in a remote mountain cabin with her agent, trying to wait out a mysterious “piano accident.” However, someone else is aware of it — and intends to utilize that knowledge. The worst part? They don’t even want her money. For Magalie, a cynic to the core, that’s the most unsettling thing of all.
As with every Quentin Dupieux film, it’s better to know as little as possible before watching. The French maestro of absurdity, strangeness, and sharp social commentary takes his time revealing the cards, misdirects the audience, and toys with expectations. A longtime staple of our festival — with hits such as “The Second Act,” “Smoking Causes Coughing,” “Incredible But True,” and, of course, the cult classic “Rubber” — Dupieux once again delivers a work that shocks, amuses, and provokes thought.
Magalie, brilliantly played by Adèle Exarchopoulos, is a monster of a woman who cheerfully admits she loves to “wallow in her own filth like a pig.” Repellent, confident, yet lonely and tragic — she’s one of the most fascinating characters you’ll meet on screen this year. She never apologizes — and if she does, beware: she’s probably trying to manipulate you.
As always, Dupieux employs his surrealism to poke fun at contemporary society, targeting influencer culture, media obsession, and the absurd hoops we must jump through to achieve fame. The king of on-screen surrealism is merciless — to his characters, and especially to us, the viewers. Adèle Exarchopoulos, a frequent collaborator with Dupieux, once again proves she’s one of Europe’s finest actors. This film is a must-see for anyone who loves her work or revels in grotesque, absurdist, and painfully truthful cinema.
reżyseria: Quentin Dupieux
scenariusz: Quentin Dupieux
obsada: Adèle Exarchopoulos, Jérôme Commandeur, Sandrine Kiberlain, Karim Leklou
zdjęcia: Quentin Dupieux
montaż: Quentin Dupieux
muzyka: Quentin Dupieux
reżyseria: Quentin Dupieux
Quentin Dupieux was born in Paris in 1974. He is a director, screenwriter, musician, and DJ. As a teenager, he began making short films, one of which he managed to sell to Canal+. At the same time, he started producing electronic music under the pseudonym Mr. Oizo, releasing his first album in 1996.
In 2007, he wrote and directed his feature debut, “Steak.” His subsequent films — including “Rubber” (2010), “Reality” (2014), and “Deerskin” — earned him not only international recognition but also the reputation of being one of the most original and leading surrealists in contemporary cinema.
His later works, which have amassed a devoted fan base, are regularly presented at major European festivals. Most recently, “The Second Act” (2024) opened the 77th edition of the Cannes Film Festival.
