"The Empire": Bruno Dumont's Artsy Space Spoof - A Berlinale Review

"The Empire," directed by Bruno Dumont, is a departure from his usual austere style, presenting a quirky sci-fi comedy set in a small French village invaded by aliens. The film's humor derives from the collision of grandiose and mundane elements, but the stretched one-gag setup and simplistic binaries disappoint. Despite fun trappings and mythmaking mumbo-jumbo, the film's conflict feels glib, failing to fully utilize beloved characters and leaving the audience wanting more depth and substance.