The Empire
Directed by Bruno Dumont
In a quiet and picturesque fishing village in Northern France, a very special child is born, unleashing a secret war between extraterrestrial forces of good and evil. In an attempt to restore their empires, two opposing forces from the depths of outer space, One and Zero, unleash an apocalyptic conflict on Earth. The villainous Zero forces secretly take over the bodies of village locals in order to foster pandemonium on our planet. At the same time, a new species engineered by the One is working towards a new, harmonious evolution. While waiting for the final battle, the imperial legions struggle to win humanity over to their cause. If that all sounds a bit out there, that’s because this slapstick space opera comes from the singular mind of Bruno Dumont (France, Slack Bay). Featuring wonderfully bizarre performances from French stars like Fabrice Luchini, Camille Cottin, and Anamaria Vartolomei, this gonzo sci-fi spectacle is part Star Wars, part Spaceballs, and 100% Dumont.
Awards & Festivals

Press & Exhibitors
Below please find additional information and promotional materials for this film. Use the buttons on the left to request to book this film for theatrical or educational/community screenings.
For all press requests, please contact us at press@kinolorber.com.
Technical Info
- Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1
- Color: Color
Press & Promotion:
playdates
Venue | City | State | Date |
---|---|---|---|
3Below Theaters | San Jose | CA | 1744948800April 18 - May 1, 2025 |
Cinema Arts Theatre | Fairfax | VA | 1742529600March 21 - March 27, 2025 |
Cinema du Parc | Montreal | QC | 1742529600March 21 - April 3, 2025 |
Dairy Arts Center | Boulder | CO | 1741924800March 14 - February 14, 2025 |
IFC Center | New York | NY | 1741323600March 7 - March 18, 2025 |
Laemmle Royal | Los Angeles | CA | 1741924800March 14 - March 20, 2025 |
SPACE | Portland | ME | 1741924800March 14, 2025 |
Sudbury Indie Cinema | Sudbury | ON | 1746158400May 2 - June 3, 2025 |
The Cinematheque | Vancouver | BC | 1741924800March 14 - March 20, 2025 |
Time & Space Limited | Hudson | NY | 1741924800March 14 - February 20, 2025 |