Before/After: Baldness & Transformation | KVIFF Trailer
- Manoël Dupont's debut feature, Before/After, is set to premiere at the 59th karlovy Vary International Film festival (KVIFF) next month.
- The film centers on Jérémy and Baptiste, who travel to istanbul seeking a solution to their shared baldness.
- Before/after is a story about male bonding and the search for identity.
News Directory 3 viewers, get ready! The Before/After film, premiering at KVIFF, promises a powerful exploration of identity and transformation.Director Manoël Dupont’s debut feature delves into the world of two men navigating hair transplants in Istanbul, ultimately highlighting the profound impact of simple acts. This moving film captures the essence of male bonding, exploring both vulnerability and human intimacy as the characters grapple with thier shared baldness and search for meaning. Watch the trailer depicting their journey, their banter, and the potential for unexpected outcomes. The film’s story and tone will captivate. Dupont’s insights add deeper meaning to the theme of transformation. Discover what’s next for Jérémy and Baptiste at the festival!
‘Before/After’ Film Explores Transformation at Karlovy Vary Film Festival
Updated June 17, 2025
Manoël Dupont’s debut feature, Before/After, is set to premiere at the 59th karlovy Vary International Film festival (KVIFF) next month. The French-Estonian production explores themes of identity and change through the lens of two men seeking hair transplants.
The film centers on Jérémy and Baptiste, who travel to istanbul seeking a solution to their shared baldness. According to the film’s synopsis, the pair hopes to “reverse the course of time” at clinics promising miraculous results. As they navigate a foreign city,a bond forms between them as they search for meaning and transformation.
Before/after is a story about male bonding and the search for identity. Dupont wrote and directed the film, with Boris Baum and Clara Brandt producing for Les Films de la Récré, a brussels-based production company. Outplay Films, based in Paris and Marseille, is handling sales.
Dupont said the film explores the idea of transformation. “What marks change? When do we say that something has truly happened – and why? What first intrigued me was the transplant itself,” Dupont said. “It’s such a simple act: nothing is added, only moved… and that alone is enough to create change.”
The KVIFF synopsis notes the film “gently explores the themes of queer identity, vulnerability and human intimacy,” adding that the characters’ journey through Istanbul enhances the search for beauty in imperfection.
The film stars Baptiste Leclere and Jérémy Lamblot. The trailer depicts the pair visiting a clinic, engaging in banter, and grappling with the potential for less-than-ideal results.
“They are a great comic duo, full of irony, which definately also shaped the film’s story and tone along the way,” Dupont said.
What’s next
Festival attendees can anticipate a thought-provoking exploration of identity, transformation, and the bonds that form in unexpected circumstances when Before/after premieres at KVIFF.