The gripping theme of artificial intelligence on humanity serves as the jumping-off point for Bertrand Bonello’s ambitiously sprawling tale The Beast. This French and English-language film spins a story around doomed romance, subconscious fears, and the occasional pigeon-based symbolism. The subject of AI has been widely explored recently in cinema, reflecting its looming threat to human existence—it’s essentially a script that writes itself. Yet in Bonello’s tale, the titular beast is not what one might expect.
Lea Seydoux Shines in an Unusual Role
One of the most striking aspects of The Beast is undoubtedly the chameleon-like performance by Lea Seydoux. She takes on the role of Gabrielle Monnier, depicted in three different eras—Paris in 1910, Los Angeles in 2014, and Paris again in 2044. Each character transformation reveals Gabrielle’s varying circumstances: a renowned pianist in the early 20th century, an emerging model in Los Angeles, and finally, a woman trapped in an AI-driven future.
The characterization of Gabrielle in 2044 explores an ostensibly emotionless society where she must undergo a peculiar medical procedure. This process aims to purge her emotional baggage by having her relive traumatic events from past lives—a stark contrast to her earlier affluent existence as a beauty and artist.
An Atmospheric Depiction of Dystopia
In 2044, Gabrielle resists committing to this purification procedure that involves submerging herself into an oil bath while revisiting painful memories, enhancing the story’s unnerving atmosphere. Citing inspiration, lineage photography gives depth with visual parallels such as Gabrielle’s various lives being reminiscent of historical floods and earthquakes.
This treatment area and others are designed with emotion-dampening colors—muted beige and taupe—suggesting depersonalization within modernist architecture devoid of personality. This mirrored coldness aligns with the sterile society attempting to eradicate emotional responses.The production and costume design departments work in tandem to create an oppressively tasteful coldness in the look of this section of the picture
, notes Peter Debruge from Variety.
Recurring Motifs and Themes
Certain motifs are threaded throughout The Beast, adding further layers to its storytelling fabric. The recurring appearance of pigeons signifies impending doom according to fortune tellers within the narrative. In contrast, dolls display a timeline evolution from antique celluloid figures crafted by Gabrielle’s husband in 1910 Paris to Kelly, an android companion for Gabrielle in 2044.
A critical figure across all timelines is Louis Lewanski (George MacKay). In each era—from Parisian passions on the verge of disaster during great floods to isolated digitized souls encountered repeatedly online or offline—Gabrielle and Louis share consistent tragic connections despite their settings often being well ahead or behind times.
The heady and elusive storytelling means that its true nature remains as mercurial as the shifting identities of its central characters
, encapsulates deftly described film intrigues encompassing entwined timelines within transitory realities beautifully captured by compared cinematic experiences like Henry James’ novella adaptations.
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