Films
Animale
Animale
A film by Emma Benestan
Belgium, France, 2024, 98'
Portuguese Premiere
Camargue, France — famous for its traditional bull-running, a thrilling and graceful challenge of agility and respect between man and beast. Surrounded by men, 22-year-old Nejma trains hard to fulfil her dream of winning the upcoming annual competition — but news of a wild and violent bull on the loose terrifies the community. Young people are turning up slaughtered everywhere, and the beast is still missing. Director Emma Benestan grew up in this area dominated by men and bulls and has made two documentaries about the region, which are spiritual prequels to this opportunity to use translations and local myths to question the relationship between bodies and violence. From “Near Dark” to the myth of the Minotaur, everything can be found in “Animale”, an ambitious western with a hint of body horror and a pinch of rape-revenge thriller.
Camargue, France — famous for its traditional bull-running, a thrilling and graceful challenge of agility and respect between man and beast. Surrounded by men, 22-year-old Nejma trains hard to fulfil her dream of winning the upcoming annual competition — but news of a wild and violent bull on the loose terrifies the community. Young people are turning up slaughtered everywhere, and the beast is still missing. Director Emma Benestan grew up in this area dominated by men and bulls and has made two documentaries about the region, which are spiritual prequels to this opportunity to use translations and local myths to question the relationship between bodies and violence. From “Near Dark” to the myth of the Minotaur, everything can be found in “Animale”, an ambitious western with a hint of body horror and a pinch of rape-revenge thriller.
Credits
Director Emma Benestan Script Emma Benestan, Julie Debiton, Vincent Le Port, et al. Producer Cassandre Warnauts, Julie Billy, Naomi Denamur Cast Oulaya Amamra, Damien Rebattel, Vivien Rodriguez Language French Subtitles Portuguese, English Vendas Film Constellation
Emma Benestan
Director "Animale"