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BERLINALE 2022 Berlinale Special

Review: Incredible but True

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- BERLINALE 2022: With his latest film, Quentin Dupieux will be able to turn anyone into a “basement person”

Review: Incredible but True
Léa Drucker and Alain Chabat in Incredible but True

If, just like in Being John Malkovich, one were to suddenly enter Quentin Dupieux’s mind, it would surely be one weird place to visit. Consistently odd ever since he came to relative prominence with Rubber [+see also:
trailer
film profile
]
– about a homicidal car tyre, no less – the French director has fully committed to delivering baffling stories featuring giant flies hidden in the boot of somebody’s car for absolutely no reason, or, just like now, in Incredible but True [+see also:
trailer
interview: Quentin Dupieux
film profile
]
, showing as a Berlinale Special Gala screening at the Berlin Film Festival, a mysterious passage that allows you to jump forward in time AND get a bit younger while you’re at it. If that doesn’t sound like a good deal, I don’t know what is.

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In true Dupieux fashion, nothing is explained here. Yes, something strange is obviously going on, but the choice is to either accept it or swiftly move along. Middle-aged couple Alain and Marie (Alain Chabat and Léa Drucker) also need to make their decision, fast, right after they move into their new house. At first, they just claim they are not “basement people”. But it’s a nice place and a nice neighbourhood, and if you can become three days younger by going down a hole with a ladder attached to it, why the hell not? Just remember to close the hatch, as otherwise it won’t work, much like a washing machine.

That’s when things get interesting, though. Usually, when presented with some kind of passage into, say, another dimension, or just about anything that’s new and exciting, human beings will go through it, touch it and invite over their friends. And yet Chabat’s Alain remains oddly indifferent. He is content with his life and his age – his partner isn’t. As a result, soon, they are one of those couples that literally end up living two separate lives under the same roof. Now, during the pandemic, many will recognise that particular pattern and silently weep.

They are not the only ones struggling, though, as Alain’s boss (Benoît Magimel) decides to treat himself to a brand-new electronic penis. Understandably, questions about “how do you steer a dick” follow, but although the possibilities are endless, this storyline – ironically – feels a bit underwhelming. Then again, it probably says something about the level of Dupieux’s work, and his wackiness, that a robotic erection no longer suffices to impress.

Incredible but True seems a bit less polished than some of his previous stories, and it also feels hurried. By the end, the narrative speeds up so much that it threatens to spin out of control – almost as if he had suddenly run out of time and jumped ahead a few times, just like Marie. But it’s also one of his most melancholic, emotionally complex films, as for all the craziness and electric sexual organs, there is something noticeably sad about this couple. She tries to fight for another chance at life, an entire do-over, while her husband calmly proceeds with his day. What’s even more heartbreaking is that Marie, who could otherwise have kept her “what if” dreams and a comforting illusion that if she had only played her cards right, her life would have been better, is in for a rude awakening. It’s very telling that people who are trying to fight time, in whatever way they can, seem to be punished here. But maybe that’s the key, in the end – at least they are trying.

Incredible but True is a French-Belgian co-production staged by Atelier de Production, and co-produced by Versus Production and ARTE France Cinéma. Its world sales are overseen by WTFilms and Wild Bunch International.

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Photogallery 11/02/2022: Berlinale 2022 - Incroyable mais vrai

29 pictures available. Swipe left or right to see them all.

Quentin Dupieux, Mathieu Verhaeghe, Thomas Verhaeghe, Léa Drucker, Anaïs Demoustier
© 2022 Fabrizio de Gennaro & Dario Caruso for Cineuropa - fadege.it, @fadege.it, dario-caruso.fr, @studio.photo.dar, Dario Caruso

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