Cineart has unveiled the mesmerizing first trailer for the surreal and avant-garde French film titled "Reflection in a Dead Diamond," the latest cinematic endeavor from the visionary duo Hélène Cattet and Bruno Forzani. This enigmatic film premiered at the prestigious 2025 Berlin Film Festival, where it competed in the Main Competition. For aficionados of whimsical and abstract cinema, this film joins the ranks of their previous works such as "The Strange Color of Your Body's Tears" and "Let the Corpses Tan."
Shot against the stunning backdrop of the Côte d’Azur in France, "Reflection in a Dead Diamond" weaves a tale of intrigue and suspicion. A retired spy, living in solitary splendor in a grand hotel, finds himself plunged into a whirlpool of doubt when his intriguing neighbor inexplicably vanishes. This peculiar and twisted narrative is replete with an eclectic array of elements: mysterious women enshrouded in all-black leather, diamond thieves, breathtaking vistas of the Mediterranean, a woman wielding an exquisite sword, and much more. Starring Fabio Testi, Yannick Renier, Koen De Bouw, Maria de Medeiros, and Thi Mai, this film is a visual feast that requires no dialogue to captivate its audience.
But is this film merely a case of style over substance, or does it possess a deeper significance? Reviews suggest that it transcends traditional storytelling, serving as both an homage to and a deconstruction of genre. It explores the fluidity of identity, memory, and sanity through its self-reflexive and meta-textual dimensions.
According to the original synopsis provided by the Berlinale, the film follows John, a 70-year-old man living in luxurious isolation on the Côte d’Azur. He becomes entranced by the woman in the adjacent room, who reminds him of his wild years as an international spy in the perilous and promising world of the 1960s. However, when she mysteriously disappears, John is beset by haunting flashbacks—or perhaps fantasies—of his glamorous and grotesque past. With imagery that pays homage to the 1960s Eurospy genre and is tinged with playful gore, John's reality becomes increasingly fragmented as he strives to unravel the enigmas of his past. Memory, madness, and the art of moviemaking become inextricably intertwined. Has he been haunted by his old enemies, who have returned to disrupt his idyllic life? Or does he face yet more conspiracies and betrayals waiting to be uncovered? Alternatively, has he simply been enchanted by the allure of escapist cinema itself?
Written and directed by the French indie filmmaking duo Hélène Cattet and Bruno Forzani, "Reflection in a Dead Diamond" (originally titled "Reflet dans un diamant mort" in French) continues their storied tradition of pushing cinematic boundaries. Produced by Pierre Foulon, this film premiered at the 2025 Berlin Film Festival and will screen at various other festivals worldwide. It is scheduled for release in France this summer, in July 2025. As for a US release date, stay tuned for updates on this captivating and enigmatic cinematic experience.
