EXCLUSIVE: Gaumont has unveiled the first trailer for French auteur Francois Ozon’s adaptation of Albert Camus’ famed novel The Stranger ahead of the film’s world premiere in competition at Venice Film Festival. 

Benjamin Voisin, who reteams with Ozon after Summer Of ’85, plays a Frenchman living in 1930s Algeria whose indifference to the world around him leads to cold-blooded murder and a trial that explores both the crime and his character. The film is shot in black-and-white and co-stars Rebecca Marder, Pierre Lottin, Swann Arlaud and Denis Lavant.

Ozon’s production company FOZ produces the film, in co-production with Gaumont, France 2 Cinema, Macassar Productions and Scope Pictures.

French distribution and international sales are handled by Gaumont who also head to Venice’s competition with Olivier Assayas’ The Wizard Of The Kremlin.

Camus’ 1942 debut novel of the same title, which explores themes of human cruelty, existentialism and post-colonialism, is one of the most popular works of French literature and has been translated into 75 languages.

The Stranger will premiere on September 2 in Venice and follows Ozon’s last time in the festival’s competition with 2016’s Frantz.

The Stranger was recently picked up by Curzon in the UK and Ireland after a slew of deals across multiple territories following its market debut at Cannes.

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