The common refrain heard over the past few years has been about how the world of television has offered a home to filmmakers who can’t seem to get projects greenlit in the increasingly tentpole focused world of the major studios. But even we were surprised when the resolutely, hardcore arthouse filmmaker Bruno Dumont showed up on the Cannes Directors’ Fortnight lineup with a police procedural/comedy mini-series, set to unspool in its entirety. Now, the first trailer is here and it’s definitely a side of Dumont we don’t usually see.
“P’tit Quinquin” (presumably named after the lullaby) follows a police investigation into a series of bizarre murders in the town of Boulogne, but also seems to chronicle the lives of a group of young kids who watch it all unfold. It’s definitely a bit wacky and surreal, though hints of philosophy creep in, and so too does some racial subtext as well. Frankly, we’re not sure what to make of it, but the idea of Dumont going (somewhat) populist is an intriguing notion.
No word yet on when this might, if ever, come stateside. But check out the trailer below.