Mandibules, a fantastical comedy from Quentin Dupieux with Grégoire Ludig, David Marsais and Adèle Exarchopoulos, is set to air on France 4 on Saturday, April 11, 2026 at 9:00 PM. Released in cinemas on May 19, 2021, the film hinges on a premise that’s instantly recognizable: two friends discover a giant fly in the trunk of a car and decide to train it to make money.
Mandibules
Film | 2021
Theatrical release: May 19, 2021
TV broadcast: France 4, Saturday, April 11, 2026 at 9:00 PM
Comedy, Fantasy | Runtime: 1h17
Directed by Quentin Dupieux | Starring Grégoire Ludig, David Marsais, Adèle Exarchopoulos
Nationality: France
With Mandibules, Quentin Dupieux channels his love of offbeat humor into a deliberately simple form of comédie fantastique, built entirely on the absurd. Jean-Gab and Manu, two characters with a sketchy sense of logic, try to cash in on a giant insect. The film hinges on the collision between a banal everyday life, an improbable creature, and the seriousness with which its protagonists treat a wildly absurd situation.
The feature also marks Dupieux’s reunion with the Palmashow universe, casting David Marsais and Grégoire Ludig in the lead roles. The filmmaker described the film as a comedy that leans more toward life and friendship than his prior projects, while keeping his dry wit and taste for offbeat ideas. This approach illuminates the distinctive tone of Mandibules, where whimsy flows as much from the dialogue as from the very setup.
The presence of the giant fly isn’t built on digital tricks alone. Its creation fused puppetry, sculpture, and digital retouching, led by Atelier 69 and puppeteer David Chapman. This technical choice gives the film a handcrafted sensibility that sits well with its world. In the cast, Adèle Exarchopoulos rounds out the trio in a notable role, which earned her a 2022 César nomination for best actress in a supporting role.
Between absurd cinema, a chronicle of friendship, and a fantastical tale deliberately off-kilter, Mandibules remains one of Quentin Dupieux's most approachable projects, without giving up what makes his work distinctive: a strange idea pushed to the limit, with no superfluous explanations.
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