David Zimmerman, a nearly 40-year-old photographer, wakes up in the body of a mysterious woman after a wild party. Director Arthur Harari blends drama, mystery, and fantasy in this 140-minute festival favourite. With Léa Seydoux and Niels Schneider, it's a thought-provoking ride now showing in Belgium.
Belgian audiences are in for a cinematic treat with The Unknown (L’inconnue), the latest film from director Arthur Harari. Known for his gripping Onoda: 10,000 Nights in the Jungle, Harari switches gears with a genre-bending tale that blends drama, mystery, and fantasy. The story follows David Zimmerman, a photographer on the cusp of 40 whose life takes a surreal turn when he wakes up in the body of an unknown woman after a wild party. It’s a premise that echoes classics like Freaky Friday but with a far more enigmatic and adult twist.
Did you know? This is not the first time Harari and Léa Seydoux have collaborated—she starred in his 2013 film La Bataille de Solférino. Their reunion here adds a layer of familiarity to the film’s exploration of identity. Seydoux, a French cinema icon known for Blue Is the Warmest Colour and No Time to Die, brings her signature intensity to the role of the unknown woman. Opposite her, Niels Schneider (Heartbeats) plays David, capturing the vulnerability of a man suddenly stripped of his own skin. The supporting cast includes Valérie Dréville, Lilith Grasmug, and Romanian director Radu Jude, adding eclectic flair.
At 140 minutes, the film takes its time to unravel its mystery, which may explain its modest 6.2/10 rating on TMDB—this is not a fast-paced thriller but a slow-burn meditation on gender, perception, and the self. Harari has said in interviews that he wanted to explore what happens when a man is forced to literally walk in a woman’s shoes, without resorting to easy comedy. The result is a haunting, dreamlike experience that has divided critics but intrigued audiences.
If you’re in Belgium, catch The Unknown on the big screen—it’s a film that invites discussion and rewards patience. Whether you’re a fan of Seydoux, a follower of Harari’s eclectic career, or simply love a good existential puzzle, this one will linger long after the credits roll.
