Title: The Piano Accident
MPA Rating: Unrated
Director: Quentin Dupieux
Starring: Adèle Exarchopoulos, Sandrine Kiberlain, Jérôme Commandeur
Runtime: 1 hr 28 mins

What It Is: Magalie Moreau (Exarchopoulos) is a viral internet star who is best known for her self-harming incidents. Magalie cannot feel pain, and she draws inspiration from the American show Jackass. All was going well for her, but she grew bored with it all and needed something bigger. When something goes wrong, the titular accident, it leads to Magalie being injured even though she does not immediately realize it.

Journalist Simone (Kiberlain) now wants to get to know Magalie, who is normally very private. Simone, however, has some information she intends to use to blackmail Magalie into granting an interview.

What We Think: I really think Quentin Dupieux is one of the weirdest filmmakers working today. From Rubber to Smoking Causes Coughing, this is a guy who does whatever he wants. He makes weird shit that is not for everyone. “Wacky” is probably the best word for it.

Adèle Exarchopoulos is having a blast as the streamer known as “Megajugs.” The film examines a YouTuber’s attitude toward fame and what that fame can do to a young woman who initially sought attention through extreme behavior. This is a dark comedy. It is really dark. The cost of fame has been examined countless times, but I do not think it has ever been done quite like this.

Our Grade: B+, This is coming to a streamer, Netflix in this case, and it deserves so much better. Watching it in a theater, I was struck by just how good the film looks. Everything blanketed in snow, the normally gorgeous leading lady stuck in a terrible wig, all of it totally works.

Even though Magalie is an absolutely despicable character, sometimes it is perfectly okay to hate the main character. That might be the most Quentin Dupieux thing of all. If you can find this, check it out. It is genuinely hilarious.