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Incredible But True (2022) movie poster

Characters & Themes

Incredible But True (2022) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
2022 · 74 min · French
Echo score 76
Directed by
Quentin Dupieux
Starring
Léa Drucker, Anaïs Demoustier, Benoît Magimel, Alain Chabat, Grégoire Bonnet, Hiro Uchiyama
Budget
$4.3M

Alain and Marie’s peaceful life in the suburbs is disrupted when they discover a mysterious tunnel beneath their new house. The tunnel leads them into a strange realm where the lines between reality and fantasy become increasingly blurred, challenging their perception of the world and the life they thought they knew.

On this page (8)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Characters explained (4)
  3. 3 Where & when it takes place
  4. 4 Themes & meaning (3)
  5. 5 Character & meaning questions
  6. 6 Movie threads
  7. 7 Movies like Incredible But True
  8. 8 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Incredible But True (2022)

Where can you watch Incredible But True? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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4 main characters · contains spoilers

Incredible But True Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of Incredible But True (2022), heroes and villains: what drives them, how they change over the course of the story and what each of them reveals about the film's bigger ideas.

  • Marie Duval (Léa Drucker)

    Marie is a driven and ambitious character, longing to reclaim her youth and pursue a career in modeling. Her obsession with the tunnel's powers drives her actions and ultimately leads to her mental breakdown. The complexity of her desires serves as a mirror to societal standards of beauty and aging.

    • 👩‍🎤 Ambition
    • 🌹 Youth
  • Alain Duval (Alain Chabat)

    Alain, Marie's husband, embodies the voice of reason amidst the chaos that unfolds throughout the movie. He struggles with the implications of the tunnel on their relationship, trying to anchor Marie while facing his own challenges. His character reflects the tension between practicality and the allure of escapism.

    • 🤔 Conflict
    • 🕵️‍♂️ Protector
  • Gérard (Benoît Magimel)

    Gérard is a flamboyant and eccentric character, whose personal issues, particularly related to his electronic transplant, bring absurdity to the story. His misadventures highlight the failed aspirations of adult life and the farcical elements of relationships. He represents the reckless side of seeking pleasure without considering consequences.

    • 😂 Absurdity
    • 🎉 Eccentricity
  • Jeanne (Anaïs Demoustier)

    Jeanne is depicted as a flirtatious and determined young woman, who navigates her feelings for Alain amid her relationship with Gérard. Her character explores themes of desire and rejection, serving as an agent of conflict that propels the narrative forward. She represents the volatile aspect of young love and infatuation.

    • 💋 Desire
    • ⚡ Turmoil

Last updated: December 03, 2024 at 14:29

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Setting

Where and When Does Incredible But True Take Place?

The setting of Incredible But True (2022): the year and time period, the places and locations, and how they shape the characters, the mood and the tension of the story.

Time period

The narrative unfolds in contemporary times, exploring themes relevant to modern relationships and societal pressures. It depicts characters navigating the complexities of adult life, love, and the desire for youthfulness. Advances in technology, such as phone-controlled devices, also suggest a present-day context.

Location

Suburban France

The movie takes place in a suburban area of France, characterized by its quaint homes and quiet streets. This setting reflects the ordinary lives of the characters, contrasting sharply with the extraordinary events that unfold. It exemplifies the serene yet sometimes stagnating nature of suburban living.

  • 🏡 Suburb
  • 🏠 House

Last updated: December 03, 2024 at 14:29

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3 major themes

Incredible But True Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is Incredible But True (2022) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Time

    The concept of time is central to the movie, highlighted by the tunnel that reverses aging yet accelerates the passage of moments. This theme prompts reflections on how time impacts relationships and personal desires. The characters grapple with the implications of aging and their choices, exploring the tension between youth and maturity.

  • Relationships

    Relationships are critically examined throughout the film, showcasing the strain between Alain and Marie as well as the affair involving Gérard and Jeanne. The evolving dynamics create conflicts rooted in love, betrayal, and unrequited feelings. The film ultimately questions the sustainability of connections under the stress of life's absurdities.

  • Identity

    The quest for identity is portrayed through Marie's transformation and her longing to reclaim youth and fame. The story addresses how external changes and societal expectations challenge one's sense of self. The characters' struggles reflect broader themes of personal authenticity and the often-fragile notion of identity in the face of life's pressures.

Last updated: December 03, 2024 at 14:29

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Character & theme questions

Incredible But True Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about Incredible But True (2022): who the characters really are, their relationships, what the symbols mean, where it takes place and what the movie is really about. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Where is the movie set?

The film takes place in suburban France, specifically in a quiet neighborhood with quaint homes and peaceful streets. This ordinary setting contrasts sharply with the extraordinary events that unfold when the characters discover the mysterious tunnel beneath their house.

  • setting
  • suburban france
  • location
  • france
  • suburb
Q2

When does the story take place?

The narrative unfolds in contemporary times. References to modern technology, such as phone-controlled devices, confirm it is set in the present day. The story explores themes relevant to modern relationships and societal pressures faced by adults.

  • time period
  • contemporary
  • modern
  • present day
Q3

What are the main themes of the movie?

The film centers on three major themes: time, relationships, and identity. The concept of time is explored through a supernatural tunnel that reverses aging. Relationships are examined through the strain between couples and affairs. Identity is portrayed through characters grappling with aging, societal expectations, and personal authenticity.

  • themes
  • time
  • relationships
  • identity
  • meaning
Q4

How does the theme of time factor into the plot?

Time is central to the movie, shown through a tunnel that reverses aging yet accelerates moments. The characters grapple with the implications of aging and their life choices, exploring the tension between youth and maturity. This creates an underlying urgency as they confront what time means for their relationships and desires.

  • time
  • aging
  • youth
  • time reversal
Q5

What does the movie say about relationships?

Relationships are critically examined, showcasing the strain between Alain and Marie as well as the affair involving Gérard and Jeanne. The evolving dynamics create conflicts rooted in love, betrayal, and unrequited feelings. The film questions whether connections can survive under the stress of life's absurdities and unexpected challenges.

  • relationships
  • love
  • affair
  • marriage
  • betrayal
Q6

Who is Marie and what does she want?

Marie Duval is Alain's wife, portrayed as a driven and ambitious character longing to reclaim her youth and pursue a modeling career. Her obsession with the tunnel's powers ultimately leads to her mental breakdown. She represents societal standards of beauty and aging and the pressure women face to remain youthful.

  • marie
  • character
  • modeling
  • youth
  • ambition
Q7

Who is Alain and what is his role?

Alain Duval is Marie's husband, depicted as the voice of reason throughout the film. He struggles with the implications of the tunnel on their relationship while trying to anchor Marie during her transformation. His character reflects the tension between practicality and the allure of escapism.

  • alain
  • character
  • husband
  • voice of reason
Q8

Who is Gérard and what makes him unusual?

Gérard is a flamboyant and eccentric character whose personal issues, particularly related to having an electronic transplant, bring absurdist humor to the story. His misadventures highlight the failed aspirations of adult life and the farcical elements of relationships. He represents the reckless side of seeking pleasure without considering consequences.

  • gérard
  • character
  • electronic transplant
  • eccentric
Q9

Who is Jeanne and what is her situation?

Jeanne is a flirtatious and determined young woman navigating her feelings for Alain while in a relationship with Gérard. Her character explores themes of desire and rejection, serving as an agent of conflict that propels the narrative forward. She represents the volatile nature of young love and infatuation.

  • jeanne
  • character
  • young love
  • affair
  • desire
Q10

What genre does this film belong to?

Incredible But True is classified as a Drama, Mystery, Fantasy, and Comedy. It blends dark humor and satire with genuinely disturbing body horror and psychological breakdown. The tone is dark, using absurdist elements to explore serious themes about aging and relationships.

  • genre
  • drama
  • comedy
  • fantasy
  • mystery
  • tone
Q11

Is this a dark comedy?

Yes, the film has a predominantly dark tone while incorporating satirical and absurdist elements. It takes a darkly comedic look at modern anxieties about aging and virility, but this humor is overshadowed by genuinely disturbing body horror and psychological themes. The overall tone balances dark comedy with psychological drama.

  • dark comedy
  • satire
  • tone
  • humor
  • horror
Q12

What does the movie say about identity?

The quest for identity is portrayed through Marie's transformation and her longing to reclaim youth and fame. The story addresses how external changes and societal expectations challenge one's sense of self. The characters' struggles reflect broader themes of personal authenticity and the fragile notion of identity when facing life's pressures and supernatural changes.

  • identity
  • self
  • authenticity
  • transformation
  • society

Movie threads

More Movies Like Incredible But True, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Incredible But True tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Suburban Uncanny movies like Incredible But True

Ordinary lives unravel after a bizarre discovery in a domestic setting. If you liked the way Incredible But True disrupted a peaceful life with surreal horror, you'll find similar stories here. These movies explore the dark side of suburbia, where bizarre discoveries lead to existential crises, blending dark comedy with unsettling psychological themes.

  • surreal
  • unsettling
  • existential
  • darkly comedic
  • anxious
  • satirical
  • Tone: dark, satirical, unsettling
  • Pacing: steady, methodical
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Stories in this thread typically begin with a state of normalcy that is disrupted by an inexplicable event or object. The narrative follows characters as their curiosity turns to obsession, revealing their deepest insecurities and leading to a gradual breakdown of their psyche and relationships, often with a bittersweet or bleak resolution.

Why they belong together: These movies are grouped by their shared setting of domestic normality invaded by the surreal, a steady pacing that builds dread, and a darkly satirical tone that critiques modern anxieties. They create a cohesive experience of existential unease rooted in everyday life.

Movies about the cost of supernatural desire like Incredible But True

Characters gain a magical power only to find it comes with a devastating price. For viewers who enjoyed Incredible But True's exploration of a time tunnel's devastating consequences, this thread collects movies where a supernatural gift becomes a curse. These stories focus on the heavy emotional weight and bittersweet endings that follow attempts to cheat reality.

  • bittersweet
  • existential
  • heavy
  • consequential
  • supernatural
  • obsession
  • Tone: bittersweet, dark, heavy
  • Pacing: steady, consequential
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves the discovery of a supernatural solution to a profound human problem, such as aging or regret. The characters' use of this power initially seems beneficial but soon exposes their flaws and escalates the stakes, resulting in severe consequences that fundamentally change them and lead to a somber, reflective ending.

Why they belong together: This thread connects films through a core plot mechanism—a supernatural MacGuffin with a cost—and a shared emotional journey from desire to despair. The combination of fantasy elements with heavy, bittersweet conclusions creates a distinct and coherent viewing experience about the dangers of getting what you wish for.

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Every angle

Incredible But True (2022) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Incredible But True in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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