STRANGER, THE
(director/writer: Francois Ozon; screenwriters: novel by Albert Camus, Philippe Plazzo; cinematographer: Manu Dacosse; editor: Clement Selitzki; music: Fatima Al Qadiri; cast: Benjamin Voisin (Meursault), Rebecca Marder (Marie Cardona), Pierre Lottin (Raymond Sintes), Swann Arlaud (Aumonier Prison), Denis Lavant (Salamono), Hajar Bouzaouit (Djemilia), Abderrahmane Dehkani (Moussa); Runtime: 122; MPAA Rating: NR; producer: Francois Ozon; Music Box Films/A Curzon Film; 2026-in B/W-France-in French,Arabic, with English subtitles)
“Flawed but brilliantly atmospheric and photographed existential drama shot in B/W.”
Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz
The great French filmmaker Francois Ozon (“Swimming Pool”/”In The House”) directs and co-writes with Philippe Plazzo this flawed but brilliantly atmospheric and photographed existential drama shot in B/W, that portrays an indifferent French killer in the 1930s living in French colonial Algeria. It’s based on the classic 1942 novel by the Frenchman Albert Camus. Its major fault is that it offers too much explaining of the anti-hero, which cheapens it. In 1967 the Italian director Visconti filmed a version of it with Mastroianni starring that Camus’s widow hated, which caused it not to get the recognition or theater release it deserved. This version has the stamp of approval from Camus’ daughter.
The handsome 30-year-old Frenchman Merseault (Benjamin Voisin) works a dull job as an o ffice clerk where he lives in the French colony of Algeria. Merseault’s mom’s recently died in a nursing homedue to old age at 60, which fails to move him. On his visit back to Paris for the funeral, he goes out with a former co-worker Marie (Rebecca Marder) and they have great sex but he has no interest in marriage.
Back in Algeria, he relates to two of his neighbors (Denis Lavant), the dog-beater, and Raymond (Pierre Lottin), who abuses his Arab girlfriend Djemila (Hajar Bouzaouit).
When Djemila’s vengeful brother and another Algerian man follow Meursault and Raymond to the beach one day, Meursault sees the brother, Moussa (Abderrahmane Dehkani), on the beach, and shoots him with Raymond’s gun because maybe he feels threatened.
While on trial, Merseault narrates his story with indifference to himself and the victim.
It played at the Venice Film Festival.
REVIEWED ON 5/12/2025 GRADE: B+
dennisschwartzreviews.com