Fantastic Fest has always given some of our more outlandish film favorites a place to shine. And in 2021, they opened the festival with Julia Ducournau’s Titane. Yes, the movie about body horror and a woman’s obsession with cars.
Ducournau was at the festival in Austin to debut her film, which shocked audiences with its honesty. In our own review, we wrote “Nothing could ever possibly prepare cold audiences for the scintillating, shocking yet tender ride that is Titane.” And that is still true today. The story is about self love, expression, and understanding what makes you you through a pretty extreme circumstance.
Titane is described as follows: “A woman with a titanium plate fitted in her head and murderous intent on her mind embarks on a bizarre journey of identity and unconditional love when she’s forced to go on the run.” Basically she is expressing herself through her feelings for a car’s ability to be alter, as she herself was.
On the one hand, I think that is a beautiful way of exploring self love. We are often told that we have to accept ourselves and are not given the tools to do so. So with a movie like Titane, we get to see how one can begin that process and do so in a way that is truthful to them. On the other hand, it is a fitting film for Fantastic Fest based on the body horror elements mixed into Ducournau’s film.
Having Ducournau at Fantastic Fest in 2021 is just one example of why this festival is one of the best of the year and today, we’re celebrating the amazing work that Ducournau brought to us with Titane. She helped change how fans view body horror and sci-fi and that’s amazing! To celebrate the festival turning 20 this year, we are celebrating women who have made it special and you can check out our list here!
(featured image: Fantastic Fest/Fons PR)
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