In French-occupied Algeria, a detached shipping clerk named Meursault (Benjamin Voisin) receives news of his mother's death. His lack of outward emotional response sets the stage for a series of events that culminate in a senseless act of violence on a sun-drenched beach. As Meursault is put on trial, the legal system and the public become more preoccupied with his refusal to conform to societal expectations than with the crime itself – leading him to confront the absurdity of existence and the inevitability of his own fate.

This stylish and faithful adaptation of Albert Camus’s landmark 1942 novel of the same name has been praised for capturing the philosophical weight of the source material. Coupled with the visually resplendent black-and-white cinematography, François Ozon's direction brings a vibrant yet unsettling clarity to the Mediterranean setting, making this timeless exploration of alienation feel urgently modern for a contemporary audience.