Karnaval

1999 1h 28m FR

😐

6.2

MID

★6.2TMDB · 11

DramaComedy

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Karnaval is set against a backdrop of intolerance and hostility in the gloomy Northern French city of Dunkirk. The story is set during carnival time, when the citizens let themselves loose for six weeks of partying, carousing and having a good time. The film centers on Larbi, an Arab youth, and his confrontation with one of the turning points of his life. After a violent argument with his father, Larbi decides to leave the family's business and go to Marseilles for a fresh start. On his last night in the town he grew up in, he sleeps in the hallway of an apartment building, where he is disturbed by Béa and Christian, a couple having fun at the carnival. Larbi is attracted to Béa and decides to stay a few more days to try his luck. In the free atmosphere of the carnival, Larbi discovers a world that he did not know existed, a world which is about to clash with his conservative outlook, and the three lives are changed forever.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Sylvie Testud
Béa
Amar ben Abdallah
Larbi
Clovis Cornillac
Christian
Jean-Paul Rouve
Pine

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Thomas Vincent
Writers: Thomas Vincent, Maxime Sassier
Languages: French
Countries: France

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

88 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

27 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Thomas Vincent, shot by Colin Houben. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Krishna Levy. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Pauline Dairou shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Sylvie Testud and Amar ben Abdallah and Clovis Cornillac carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0187200 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Thomas Vincent directs. Colin Houben behind the camera. Krishna Levy scores. Pauline Dairou cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in France. Dialogue in French.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

188 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.
227 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
3Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
4Directed by Thomas Vincent, shot by Colin Houben. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Original score by Krishna Levy. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
6Editor Pauline Dairou shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7Sylvie Testud and Amar ben Abdallah and Clovis Cornillac carry the top of the cast.
8IMDB entry: tt0187200 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
9Only 11 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.