This film caused controversy when it was screened at the Cannes Film Festival, but that didn’t stop it from winning the Palme d’Or. It’s now available on Netflix.
The cinematic experience is so particular that for horror films or trash films, it can be traumatic for some. The Cannes Film Festival regularly pays the price, since very regularly, a film in the competition causes a scandal among festival-goers, or even causes nausea at the Palais des Festivals, with dozens of people leaving the screening room prematurely, traumatized or unable to see any more.
In 2021, a Franco-Belgian film caused a stir on the Croisette because of its violent scenes. On the program: blood, sex, mutant bodies, gore and an impactful visual experience. Despite the very strong reaction it had aroused, it had won the Palme d’Or the same year. If you missed it in theaters and you like thrills, know that it has just been put online on Netflix in mid-July. Because, whether you discover it on the small or big screen, Titanium is definitely a special viewing experience.
Directed by the French Julia Ducournau (to whom we owe the brilliant and disturbing Severe), this thriller with accents of gore and horror tells the story of Alexia, seriously injured in a child car accident, saved by a titanium implant placed in her skull. As an adult, she becomes an erotic dancer in tuning rallies, but suffers from severe post-traumatic stress disorder, which gives her murderous urges. When the police are looking for the culprit of a murder, she changes her identity and becomes Adrien. Things get complicated when a firefighter thinks he recognizes Adrien as his son who disappeared ten years ago, and Adrien’s body changes because of an unexpected and monstrous pregnancy
You would have understood it, Titanium is a demanding film that can put off viewers and that addresses strong themes, including the deconstruction of gender stereotypes and trans identity. At Cannes, Julia Ducournau’s film had provoked strong reactions, with some viewers feeling unwell or leaving the room during its screening.
However, it received a rather correct reception from the French press, since it was rated 3.5/5. 20 Minutes speaks of an “intense experience”, Cinemateaser describes it as “unstable but exciting” while Le Figaro describes Julia Ducournau as an “extraordinary” director. Conversely, Libération deplores a film “as nightmarish as it is chaotic”. What is certain is that Titanium will not leave Netflix subscribers indifferent.