Crowned with several Césars, this particularly original and ambitious French film is finally broadcast on television and visible in streaming.
French films sometimes get a bad rap among moviegoers, and often wrongly so. Because French cinema is fortunately not limited to its schoolboy comedies, as can often be very unfairly summarized. Every year, many films that push the boundaries of genres surprise audiences.
Last year alone, the trial film Anatomy of a Fall blazed a royal trail to Hollywood, the drama I Will Always See Your Faces moved critics and audiences, the horror film Vermin explored a genre little exploited in our regions, when Vincent must die or even Yannick have each distinguished themselves. But there is a film that has been unanimously praised for its originality and audacity in 2023. And for good reason: The Animal Kingdom has taken over a genre that is becoming rare in French cinema, that of the fantasy film. Directed by Thomas Cailley, this feature film tells how a father and his son try to survive by all means in a hostile world, where human beings are transformed into animals.
While the infected are interned in special clinics, the protagonist takes all the risks to save his wife, who is herself affected. In the casting, Romain Duris plays Adèle Exarchopoulos, while Paul Kircher plays one of the leading roles. When it was released in theaters on October 4, 2023, The Animal Kingdom created a surprise. Télérama hails it as “a staggering coup”, while Libération believes that the film “opens a new path for French cinema”. For Première, it is even a “stunning masterpiece”. According to Allociné, it is even one of the best rated films of the year by the press on its site, with an average of 4.4/5.
Also at the box office, The Animal Kingdom found its audience, exceeding one million admissions during its sixth week of operation. In total, the production will win five Césars in 2024: Best Costumes, Best Sound, Best Visual Effects, Best Original Music and Best Photography.
The animal kingdom had a good life when it was released in theaters and was, since then, only available for purchase and rental on VOD. If you unfortunately missed this phenomenon film on the big screen, know that it is finally possible to see it on the small screen: Canal is broadcasting the fantastic film on television this Friday, April 12. It will then be possible to watch it streaming on the MyCanal subscription platform.
