Venice Film Festival 2024 Review ‘ PLANET B ‘

[Review by Stefan Chiarantano]

PLANÈTE B is a science fiction thriller set in a dystopian France of 2039. Directed by Aude Léa Rapin, the film stars Eliane Umuhire, Adèle Exarchopoulos, and Souheila Yacoub. It is a multilingual film featuring French, English, and Arabic. In this dark future, a radical group of eco-warriors opposed to fossil fuels resorts to blowing up power stations. France of 2039 is a disturbing place where drones conduct surveillance and biometric eye scans are routine. Some eco-warriors, including Julia Bombarth, are caught and sent to Planète B, a virtual world prison where they endure daily nightmares in a cycle of rinse and repeat.

This surreal world is not far from present-day reality. The French state has abandoned traditional incarceration methods. If the virtual prisoners cooperate and reveal their co-conspirators, they can be released. Issues of immigration, the influx of migrants, and societal fraying with tent encampments and unhoused people provide a backdrop to the narrative.

Planète B is a film filled with twists and turns, intertwining two narratives that drive the film’s dramatic tension. The story follows Julia Bombarth, an eco-warrior, and Nour Abdi, a refugee from Iraq fleeing persecution. Nour has assumed a fake identity to blend in and avoid detection while seeking a way out of France to Canada. She has ten days before her QR code expires, putting her in conflict with the state.

French films have always captivated with their emphasis on intimate relationships, and beneath the dramatic narrative lies a story reminiscent of the traditional Hollywood storyline:  a story of a girl who finds, loses, and ultimately reunites with the girl. As the narrative progresses, the backstories of Julia and Nour are revealed. The screenplay’s embrace of game theory adds twists and turns, leading to an unexpected denouement.

This gripping and compelling film portrays a world gone mad, told through cinematic language with an emphasis on French storytelling. The film has much depth, and its premise isn’t far-fetched. With growing income and social inequality in the world, many may experience the deprivations and injustices depicted, suffering at the hands of totalitarian states. Planète B is a wake-up call for all of us to take action before it’s too late.

Watch the trailer for Planet B below

Planet B premiered at Venice Film Festival on  August 29th.

It will be released on December 25, 2024 in France