Play Dead! (2023)

Play Dead! (2023) poster

If there is one person Matthew Lancit can’t get out of his mind, it is his uncle Harvey. Dark rings around his eyes, pale, blind, his legs amputated. Like Harvey, the filmmaker also suffers from diabetes. He has the disease under control, but one question is always nagging at him: How much longer? His long-term (self-)observation reliably revolves around fears of infirmity and mutilation. He translates the feared body horror into film, stages himself as a zombie, vampire, a desolate figure. Lancit playfully anticipates his potential decline, serving up a whole arsenal of effects which – as video recordings prove – go back to his youth. It is not for nothing that the “dead” in the title is also reminiscent of “dad.” Because “Play Dead!” also negotiates his own role as a father.

Director: Matthew Lancit
Genre: Documentary
Runtime: 80 min
Release Date:
Music: Etienne Nicolas
Cinematography: Armel Hostiou
Editing: Ariane Mellet, Matthew Lancit
Production: ARTE, TAJINE STUDIO
Country: France
Language: English, Français
Original Language: fr

Keywords

gore, diabetic, roleplay, health documentary, beating heart, video diary, self-portrait, documentary, body horror, blood, special effects makeup, family roleplay

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Play Dead! about?
If there is one person Matthew Lancit can’t get out of his mind, it is his uncle Harvey. Dark rings around his eyes, pale, blind, his legs amputated. Like Harvey, the filmmaker also suffers from diabetes. He has the disease under control, but one question is always nagging at him: How much longer? His long-term (self-)observation reliably revolves around fears of infirmity and mutilation. He translates the feared body horror into film, stages himself as a zombie, vampire, a desolate figure. Lancit playfully anticipates his potential decline, serving up a whole arsenal of effects which – as video recordings prove – go back to his youth. It is not for nothing that the “dead” in the title is also reminiscent of “dad.” Because “Play Dead!” also negotiates his own role as a father.
Who directed Play Dead!?
Play Dead! was directed by Matthew Lancit.
How long is Play Dead!?
Play Dead! has a runtime of 1h 20m (80 minutes).
What genre is Play Dead!?
Play Dead! is a Documentary film.
Where was Play Dead! produced?
Play Dead! was produced in France.