“Death Does Not Exist”

Haunting and cerebral, the animated drama “Death Does Not Exist” is certainly challenging. Directed by Félix Dufour-Laperrière, the film is a metaphysical journey through guilt and ideology, chronicling an erosion of conviction in a manner that’s as creative as it is thoughtful.

The film follows Hélène, a young activist who freezes during a failed armed attack against a wealthy estate and, in a panic, abandons her comrades. Alone in the forest, she is pursued by Manon, a fallen companion. Manon becomes a sort of moral compass for Hélène, urging the woman to confront the depth of her betrayal and the weight of her ideals.

This is not a film interested in clean resolutions or didactic moralizing, but one that explores political disillusionment and personal reckoning through a surreal lens. This is a tale of a person unraveling from within, and it’s tragic. Thankfully, Dufour-Laperrière lightens the narrative with moments of tenderness, love, and the bittersweet remains of fractured friendships.

The characters have a lot of depth, and the writing is just as strong. The conversations between Hélène and Manon are intimate, philosophical, and emotionally charged, simmering with unresolved anger (and affection). This is a complex relationship that’s beautifully captured.

Dufour-Laperrière’s animation style is unconventional and at times unsettling. While it may not appeal to every aesthetic taste, there’s no denying the cohesion between the film’s visual and thematic ambitions. The distorted, sometimes grotesque imagery mirrors the film’s psychological landscape, rendering emotional and moral states in physical form. The result is a visual experience that’s often disturbing, but deeply effective.

By: Louisa Moore