The feature debut of French-Estonian writer, director, and actor Manoël Dupont, Before/After (Avant/Après), will have its world premiere next month in the Proxima competition section at the 59th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (KVIFF).
The film tells the story of two men, Jérémy and Baptiste, whose shared experience of baldness brings them together on a journey to Istanbul for hair transplant surgery. According to the synopsis, “Their common baldness leads them to a clinic in Istanbul that promises to reverse the course of time. Amidst shifting turmoil and silent unrest, they seek meaning in an unfamiliar city. Day by day, a fragile connection slowly forms, holding hope for change.”
Before/After was written and directed by Dupont and produced by Boris Baum and Clara Brandt for Brussels-based Les Films de la Récré. Paris- and Marseille-based Outplay Films manages sales for the film.
Dupont elaborated on the film’s core theme, explaining, “The concept of transformation is central to Before/After. What defines change? When do we say something has truly happened — and why? What initially drew me was the transplant procedure itself. It’s a very simple act: nothing is added, just relocated. Taking a follicle from here, moving it there. It’s not addition, but displacement — and that alone is enough to effect change.”
The filmmaker continued, “This idea also guided my storytelling. I didn’t want to separate reality from fiction; I wanted them to nourish and reflect each other. Together with Jérémy and Baptiste, we constructed their pasts, giving us a quiet foundation to build on, without being confined by it.”
The KVIFF description highlights that the film “gently explores themes of queer identity, vulnerability, and human intimacy,” adding that “the duo’s strolls through the Turkish metropolis deepen an atmosphere of exploration — a search for beauty amid imperfection.”
The exclusive trailer features Baptiste Leclere and Jérémy Lamblot visiting a clinic, sharing playful banter while applying foam to their heads and joking about the risk of ending up with “terrible hair.”
Dupont summed up, “They are a brilliant comedic pair, full of irony, which undoubtedly shapes both the story and tone of the film.”
Before/After is set to premiere at KVIFF next month.
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