What happens when a film set stops running the show and starts running off the rails? How much control can a director keep once the crew, the budget and the schedule stop cooperating? Gaspar Noé comes to the rescue with this hidden gem on Tubi that's polarizing enough that you'll love it or you'll hate it.
“Lux Aeterna” puts Béatrice Dalle and Charlotte Gainsbourg, playing fictional versions of themselves, in a production about witch trials that steadily unravels. Calls from producers interrupt takes, department heads argue, and a technical demo turns into a blinding strobe that halts the shoot. You know, just normal production snafus that definitely don't take a detour into the surreal.
It has a storyline, sure, but more than that, it's a normal workday for a set of actors captured at the point of failure. The question isn’t whether the movie gets finished, because we assume as viewers that's a problem that can be solved by simply shooting more takes. It's more about the acid trip of the process to arrive there when it seems impossible, and that's what Noé accomplishes in his weirdest film since "Enter the Void." But "Lux Aeterna" is leaving Tubi soon, so if you want to experience it (for free!) now's the time.
What's 'Lux Aeterna' about?
Béatrice Dalle and Charlotte Gainsbourg play themselves on the set of "God’s Craft," a film about witches being burned at the stake. They start their day discussing depictions of witches and the treatment of women on set. Then, Dalle handles directing duties, and Gainsbourg heads to makeup and wardrobe.
Behind the scenes, producers monitor Dalle with the intent to replace her, and the director of photography, who's been promised the job, refuses to cooperate. When the team finally stages the witch-burning scene, a projection and sound malfunction triggers red-green-blue strobing and an overwhelming drone in the audio. The DP orders cameras to keep rolling while the actresses are instructed to remain tied.
Two performers free themselves and leave. Gainsbourg remains bound as Dalle tries to restore control. And things go off the rails from there in such a spectacular way that you're not sure where the movie ends and dreams begin. Throughout, split-screen images and title cards appear with remarks from a variety of filmmakers as you start to wonder if there might have been something in your drink when you sat down to watch. Because this is no normal "documentary."
Why you should stream 'Lux Aeterna' on Tubi
This bizarre psychedelic mockumentary is a cool 51 minutes, so even though it'll feel a lot longer once you get going, it's a relatively short watch that'll have you questioning everything. Whether you're an aspiring filmmaker or you're just curious about what might go wrong behind the scenes, "Lux Aeterna" is an intriguing lens through which to view the industry.
Seeing actors playing themselves is always a treat, and you get that in droves here, specifically with Dalle and Gainsbourg. You watch them as they start out at their most professional, then unravel. The strobing light and audio warping don't help matters much and turn the whole thing into an endurance test.
While this is a movie you'll get a lot out of, whether it's to satisfy your morbid curiosity or to just watch a trainwreck of a production unfold, it's safe to say "Lux Aeterna" might be a tough watch. But you'll be glad you did so once you're on the other side of it.
Gaspar Noé's filmography is one of unflinching strangeness, but this is one of his best and one that gives you a look at the other side of filmmaking. Catch it before it leaves Tubi, because it'll likely be harder to find once it's gone from the free streamer.
Watch "Lux Aeterna" free on Tubi
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