L’Etranger

When Meursault hears that his mother has passed away, he travels to Algiers for the funeral. Meursault seems hardly affected by his mother’s death—a detachment that raises questions among those around him. The next day, he begins a relationship with Marie, a former colleague from the shipping company. Marie envisions a future together, but Meursault does not want to commit. He prefers to get involved with Raymond Sintès, a man of questionable reputation. Soon, their friendship takes on dangerous dimensions.

L’Étranger is based on the world-famous 1942 novel by Albert Camus, one of the best-selling French novels of all time. In this adaptation, François Ozon stays close to Camus’s understated tone. In stark black-and-white, he emphasizes Meursault’s detached, indifferent attitude toward the world around him. A calm yet penetrating portrait of a man who refuses to conform to the expectations of others.