France 2025
Opening January 1, 2026

Directed by: François Ozon
Writing credits: Albert Camus, François Ozon, Philippe Piazzo
Principal actors: Benjamin Voisin, Rebecca Marder, Pierre Lottin, Denis Lavant, Swann Arlaud

Meursault (Benjamin Voisin) receives a telegram that his mother, who has been living in a home for seniors, has passed away. He goes to the funeral, but refuses to have the coffin opened for one last look. Also present are other residents of the home. We learn that his mother had been engaged to marry Monsieur Perez. Meursault’s neighbor Raymond Sintès (Pierre Lottin) works as a pimp, connecting young women with partners. He asks Meursault to write a letter for him to send to his former girlfriend who is making impossible requests. Meursault dates Marie (Rebecca Marder) until she suddenly disappears. There is a walk along the beach which ends with Meursault shooting a man. There is a court case. In jail Meursault has much time to think about reconstructing his life.

The film, in black and white, is based on the book L'étranger (The Stranger) by Albert Camus from 1942. It takes place in Algeria in the 1930s, a time of exciting automobiles, women wearing hats, and old-fashioned telephones. Der Fremde begins with Meursault sitting in prison, saying “I killed an Arab.” The plot shares Meursault’s life experiences and, in flashbacks, returns regularly to him sitting behind bars. Albert Camus’s book was filmed once in 1967, Lo straniero, directed by Luchino Visconti. Now we have a new version by François Ozon, which premiered in competition at the 2025 Venice Film Festival. (Becky T.)