What do ghost stories, 3D pornography, and insecure actresses all have in common? Well, if you’re well-versed in the work of French filmmaker Olivier Assayas, you should already know the answer.
It is difficult to find a singular aspect of Assayas’ films that sets him above his contemporaries — apart from his status as a critically acclaimed festival favorite — though the director’s talent for storytelling as well as his ability to capture fantastic performances from his actors are two factors that certainly lend themselves to supporting this argument. Although his name is normally associated with character-driven dramas, Assayas has also experimented with genre flicks, with the sleazy neo-noir “Demonlover” and supernatural thriller “Personal Shopper” standing out as two of the most distinctive outliers within his resumé.
However, Assayas’ latest feature “Non-Fiction” will presumably find itself compared to the more conventional side of his filmography. Here’s the official synopsis:
Alain, a successful Parisian publisher struggling to adapt to the digital revolution, has major doubts about the new manuscript of Léonard, one of his long-time authors – another work of auto-fiction recycling his love affair with a minor celebrity. Selena, Alain’s wife, a famous stage actress, is of the opposite opinion.
In preparation of the film’s release at the 75th Venice Film Festival, Assayas released a director’s statement about the movie, in which he described “Non-Fiction” as a film, “not about analyzing the workings of a new economy,” but rather an observation of “how questions beleaguer us, personally, emotionally, and sometimes humorously.” Long-time collaborator Juliette Binoche is set to star alongside Guillaume Canet and Vincent Macaigne in the upcoming drama-tinged comedy.
“Non-Fiction” will hit theaters on May 3.