The Animal Kingdom

SYNOPSIS: In a world hit by a wave of mutations that are gradually transforming some humans into animals, François does everything he can to save his wife, who is affected by this mysterious condition. As some of the creatures disappear into a nearby forest, he embarks with Émile, their 16-year-old son, on a quest that will change their lives forever.

DIRECTOR: Thomas Cail­ley

After com­plet­ing film stud­ies in the screen­writ­ing depart­ment of La Fémis, Thomas Cail­ley direct­ed the short film Paris Shang­hai (2011) which was award­ed in many film fes­ti­vals. His fea­ture debut Love at First Fight was a crit­i­cal and pub­lic suc­cess. Pre­miered and award­ed at the Direc­tors’ Fort­night in 2014, it won the fol­low­ing year three César Awards, includ­ing Best First Film. Direct­ed for Arte, his first TV series Ad Vitam was select­ed at the Toron­to Film Fes­ti­val and won Best French Series of the year at Séries Mania in 2018. The Ani­mal King­dom, pre­sent­ed this year as the open­ing film of Un Cer­tain Regard at the Cannes Film Fes­ti­val is his sec­ond fea­ture film as director.

Directed by:Thomas Cailley

Year of production: 2023

Country: France, Belgium

Duration: 2h 10min