The Better Me (französische OmeU) // 40. Fantasy Filmfest // Deutschlandpremiere

Alex, in his mid-forties, leads a rather boring life, occasionally spiced up by erotic role-playing games with his wife. But suddenly, a new neighbor named Axel moves in—a man who looks almost exactly like him, except for Alex’s receding hairline. In every other way, Axel seems like his souped-up doppelgänger: more athletic, more of a do-gooder, and with a bigger wine cellar. But the resemblance seems to be noticed only by Alex, which plunges him into a severe midlife crisis. His desperate efforts to be better than the perfect version of himself soon lead to disaster.

The filmmaking duo Nicolas & Bruno deliver a surrealist comedy crafted with meticulous attention to detail—in the style of a macabre *The Truman Show*. It’s refreshing that, for once, this story features a man struggling with his self-image. The film should nevertheless appeal to and delight all those for whom self-doubt is no stranger.